November 14, 2005

Saudi Arabia bans poultry imports after Kuwaiti bird flu cases
 

Saudi Arabia has banned all imports of poultry in a precautionary step following the discovery of two cases of bird flu in neighbouring Kuwait.

The announcement was made Saturday by Saudi Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghnaim, who said a royal decree was issued due to "the seriousness of the issue and the developments in neighbouring countries."

On Friday, Kuwait said that it had discovered the deadly H5N1 flu strain in a migrating flamingo found on a Kuwait beach, the first known case of the virus in the Gulf region.

"The ministry affirms that no live birds will enter the kingdom and the decision will be strictly enforced to protect citizens and residents," the Saudi minister said.

Saudi Health Minister Hamad al-Manae said the kingdom was free of the deadly virus and that the ministry was closely monitoring the situation and taking all the necessary precautions.

Bird flu has ravaged poultry flocks in Asia and jumped to humans, raising fears that it could mutate into a form easily passed from human to human and cause a global pandemic. The H5N1 strain has killed at least 64 people in Southeast Asia-two-thirds of them in Vietnam-since late 2003.

The Middle East region has been worried about possible outbreaks because the region sits on important migratory routes. Migratory birds have already spread the virus to Russia, Turkey and Romania.