February 20, 2004

Syria Bans Asian Poultry Imports

Syria has extended a ban on poultry imports to cover 18 Asian countries in a bid to stop the bird flu virus from reaching the country, the Agriculture Ministry said Thursday.

The ban, which covers all kinds of birds and poultry products, applies to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Laos and the Maldives.

The ministry extended the ban Wednesday, an official at the ministry said, speaking on customary condition of anonymity. The move came as China confirmed more cases of bird flu and Thailand launched a probe into whether scores of cattle deaths were from the highly contagious disease. The World Health Organization has urged greater vigilance against the disease.

Last month, Syria banned poultry imports from Japan, Vietnam and Korea. Similar restrictions in the Middle East have been imposed recently.

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is generally transmitted from wild birds to domestic farm animals where it can wipe out entire flocks. In some rare cases, it is passed on to humans and is sometimes fatal, mainly for young children and the elderly.