February 15, 2006

Albania bans poultry imports from four European countries

Albania Tuesday (Feb 14) banned poultry imports from Greece, Italy, Bulgaria and Slovenia, where the H5N1 bird flu strain was detected over the weekend, the Agriculture Ministry said.

Albania, which has recorded no cases of bird flu, was also buying protective clothing and stockpiling anti-viral drugs in case the disease reached the tiny Balkan country.

Imports from other Asian and European countries with bird flu cases have been banned, and authorities urged Albanians to avoid contact with dead birds. Hunting wild birds has been prohibited, and experts were regularly checking lagoons for sick or dead birds.

Separately, Albania banned cattle imports last week from Argentina, Turkey and Brazil, following cases of FMD in those countries.