March 24, 2006

Jordan sets one week deadline before culling poultry in border area

Authorities Thursday (Mar 23) gave Jordanians living in areas flanked by Israel and the Palestinian territories one week to eat their home-raised poultry or risk their culling, according to Health Minister Saeed Darwazeh.

Justifying the kingdom's latest measure to keep Jordan free of bird flu, Darwazeh said the move was made in view of the confirmation by Israeli and Palestinian authorities that birds in their territories tested positive for the H5N1 virus.

Afflicted birds that have been well-cooked pose no threat to humans.

The Jordanian health minister said he will make unannounced visits to poultry farms in the valley to inspect the precautions farmers are taking against the virus.

Jordan had already banned imports of poultry products and pet birds. To handle an outbreak, Jordan has allocated US$8.5 million, most of which would go to vaccinating poultry and compensating owners of destroyed flocks.