October 31, 2005

Newcastle disease, not bird flu, hits Yemen

Newcastle disease, not bird flu, has recently killed chickens in Yemen, the government said. No further details were given.

Residents in some areas have reported mass chicken deaths, and the government said public concern resulted in domestic poultry sales falling 20 percent recently.

Officials said so far bird flu has not been found in the country, which had about 5,000 poultry farms.

Yemen's annual consumption of domestic and imported poultry was 70,000 tonnes and 80,000 tonnes respectively, officials said.