February 11, 2005

Cambodia to ban poultry from Thailand, Vietnam

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday signed an order to ban the influx of poultry from Thailand and Vietnam in order to prevent the spreading of bird flu into Cambodia.

The premier said the cheap poultry products that continue to be smuggled across to Cambodia from Vietnam and Thailand continue to hurt the local poultry industry and, more seriously, lead to the spread of bird flu from those countries."

The Cambodian government banned the import of poultry and poultry products from Vietnam and Thailand on Dec. 31, as avian influenza continued to kill people in the two countries. Checks on livestock and poultry products were also stepped up.

Hun Sen ordered border officials, customs and relevant authorities to tighten the control and checking to prohibit the smuggling as well as to protect the local poultry market.

Cambodia had confirmed its first human fatality from bird flu, a 25-year-old woman from Kampot province. Last Sunday, a new bird flu case was reported in Kandal province, about 12km south of the capital Phnom Penh.

Since then, the Cambodian government and relevant authorities have enhanced the monitoring and investigation throughout the country in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO).