May 4, 2007

Philippines bans poultry, poultry products from US' West Virginia
 

The Philippines has imposed a ban on poultry and poultry products from the US state of West Virginia due to a reported outbreak of avian flu in that area.

The ban was prompted by laboratory test results from the US National Veterinary Services Laboratories, which showed that "samples from turkeys collected in a farm in West Virginia last Mar 31, 2007 are indicative of exposure to an H5N2 avian influenza virus," said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

Yap added that the ban would help prevent the entry of avian influenza into the Philippines.

The US is a major source of the country's poultry imports.

The ban covers domestic and wild birds and their products, including poultry meat, day-old chicks, eggs and semen originating from the state.

No import data was immediately available.