August 16, 2006

Mexico bans Michigan poultry after bird-flu found

Mexico's Agricultural Department said on Tuesday (Aug 15) it was banning imports of poultry from the US state of Michigan after authorities there said that a relatively harmless, low-grade strain of the H5N1 bird-flu virus had been found.

At a news conference Monday (Aug 14), the USDA said preliminary tests had indicated a low-pathogenic form of the virus had been detected recently in two wild swans tested in Michigan.

The strain is far less virulent than the Asian strain of the virus that has killed humans, but Mexican authorities said they adopted the ban as a precautionary measure.

"The measure will remain in effect until the USDA can present evidence to confirm that there is no contagion of the virus on commercial poultry operations in Michigan," the Mexican government said in a statement.

The ban applies to eggs, meat and live animals, as well as other poultry byproducts.

The USDA said the low-pathogenic H5N1 virus had been found in the US only twice in its history, once in 1975 and once in 1986, in wild birds. The virus also was found last year in Canada.

A USDA official said that although the low-pathogenic strain of H5N1 does not threaten humans, it could evolve into a highly pathogenic virus.