January 21, 2005

Cambodia sets warns against Vietnamese poultry

Worrying a possible surge in the smuggling of chicken and pork products to the country, Cambodia's border provinces on Wednesday warned again not to import or eat chicken from Vietnam, local media reported on Thursday.

The worrying was rising as the Chinese New Year approaches next month.

Officials in border provinces of Svay Rieng and Prey Veng were quoted as saying that "We have announced to people not to import or eat chicken from Vietnam." Also, villagers in 31 communes along the border have been warned not to import chicken.

The Cambodian government has banned the import of poultry and poultry products from Vietnam and Thailand on December 31, as avian influenza continues to kill people in the two countries. Officials were asked to be extra careful when examining livestock and related products.

The ban will remain in effect until Vietnam and Thailand announce they are free of the disease and the World Organization for Animal Health confirms it.

According to the report, the bird flu again occurred recently in Vietnam and Thailand, which has killed more than 20 people in Vietnam and 12 people in Thailand over the past year.

While an outbreak of bird flu was found in Kandal province last September, Cambodia has yet to confirm any new cases of the disease inside the country.