January 27, 2004

Philippines: US Chicken Imports No Danger Of Bird Flu

Philippine authorities have dismissed the possibility of bird flu in shipments of frozen chicken that originated from the U.S. and Canada but passed through disease-stricken Taiwan.

Nevertheless, the government announced it was stepping up its watch of poultry imports and would track down smuggled consignments.

"We need to keep a tight rein and a watchful eye on inbound poultry products for as long as the bird-flu threat lasts," President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in a statement.

So far, no case of bird flu has been reported in the country, but many of the Philippines' neighbors have been hit by the virus. The disease sweeping across Asia has killed at least seven people and millions of chickens.

World Health Organization regional spokesman Peter Cordingley said WHO research shows people become infected with bird flu through contact with chicken feces, but that there is no public health risk from poultry parts, frozen or otherwise.

The Philippines has banned chicken products from most Asian countries as a precaution. The Philippine coast guard and all sea port inspectors have been told to "strictly scrutinize" all refrigerated vans for infected poultry, officials said.

Customs Commissioner Antonio Bernando ordered an investigation into the release Friday of 19 refrigerated vans of frozen chicken from a port in Batangas province, south of Manila. Documents show the shipment originated from the U.S. and Canada but passed through Taiwan, one of eight places in Asia hit by the bird-flu virus.

Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo said samples indicate that the frozen chicken weren't infected with bird flu.

Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and Pakistan have reported bird-flu outbreaks. But the virus has sickened humans only in Thailand and Vietnam.