September 23, 2005

Indonesia continues poultry imports amid own bird flu outbreaks

 
Indonesia's government said the country would continue with poultry imports, following the recent official announcement of the new "extraordinary incident" status. The status meant suspected bird flu patients could be forced into being admitted into hospitals.

The government said Indonesia could only ban poultry imports from countries, which according to World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), were having the same outbreaks.

However, the government did not name the countries considered by the OIE to be affected by bird flu.

Poultry trade between regions also could not be banned as the source of the disease was yet to be located, the government added.