February 20, 2004

Japan Bans Poultry From Canada Over Bird Flu Fears

Japan Friday banned poultry imports from Canada after bird flu virus was detected on a British Columbia farm, agricultural officials said.

The ban took effect immediately, said Yasuharu Okano of the Agriculture Ministry.

Canada is a very minor supplier of poultry to Japan, which imported 67 metric tons of chicken and chicken products from the country in the 2002 fiscal year. That accounts for less than 1% of Japan's total poultry imports.

Canadian officials are testing samples of a low-risk bird flu virus to determine if the strain is one that kills almost all infected poultry. Officials say the H7 avian flu has been contained on the farm.

Officials said the virus doesn't affect humans and is different from the deadly H5N1 strain that has killed 22 people in Thailand and Vietnam and forced officials to slaughter millions of poultry in a bid at containment.

It isn't currently known if the strain in the Canadian outbreak is a form of influenza viruses that kills virtually all infected chickens. Test results to determine the exact type of flu strain will be available Friday, an Agriculture Canada official said.