March 4, 2004

Syria Bans Canada Poultry On Bird Flu Fears

Syria extended a ban on poultry imports to Canada after reports of an outbreak of a highly contagious strain of bird flu, the Agriculture Ministry said.

The ministry said the ban covers all kinds of birds and poultry products from Canada.

The ministry has already banned poultry imports from 18 Asian countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Thailand, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Laos, Maldives, Japan, Vietnam and Korea.

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.

Bird flu has recently swept through Asia, killing 22 people in Thailand and Vietnam.