June 25, 2004

Cambodia Lifts Ban On Poultry Farming In 12 Locations

Cambodia will allow poultry farming to resume in places cleared of bird flu. But the country is far from declaring itself free of the virus, an agriculture official said Thursday.
 
Twelve places that were hit by the virus are now free of it, said Kao Phal, a top Agriculture Ministry official.
 
So far, two poultry farms in Phnom Penh and the bird section in a zoo south of the capital have been notified that they are free of bird flu, and can raise poultry and other birds, he said. The other nine locations will receive notification later this week.
 
"Bird-flu free (status) is being given to these 12 locations only, and we are not yet bird-flu free nationwide," Kao Phal said.
 
He said the ban on the import of poultry products from neighboring countries struck by the outbreaks would stay until further notice.
 
Bird flu has ravaged flocks in parts of Asia and has spread to humans in Thailand and Vietnam, killing 24 people. More than 30,000 chickens, ducks and other fowl have been slaughtered in Cambodia in an effort to prevent the spread of the disease.
 
No human cases of the disease have been confirmed in Cambodia.