April 4, 2007

UAE closes live poultry shops amid bird flu concerns
 

UAE authorities have shut down all domestic live poultry shops as a precaution against bird flu amid recent reports of outbreaks in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Dr Hussein Hassanen, Technical Secretary of Poultry Producers Association, said poultry farms complying with both international and domestic safety and health standards would continue to operate normally.

Veterinary doctors and inspectors have also been ordered to step up surveillance at all border check points to ensure no wild birds or poultry entered the country.

Since last week, the nation has temporarily banned live bird and poultry imports from Kuwait and Saudi Arabia as a safety precaution.

The National Committee for Emergency Response plans to carry out mock bird flu drills nationwide to test the reactions of emergency response teams in the event of an outbreak.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is seeking to cooperate with Egypt in producing a human bird flu vaccine, said Indonesian trade minister Mari Pangestu at a recent news conference.

Although bird flu has affected both countries, Egypt has more advanced pharmaceutical experience and has produced a variety of vaccines, opening up the possibility for cooperation, Pangestu added.