Virus tightens grip on Asia


BRUSSELS: The European Union extended a ban on imports of Thai poultry and pet birds from Asia for six months yesterday, to protect the bloc from an outbreak of deadly bird flu which shows few signs of abating.
The EU, the second biggest importer of Thai chicken, announced the embargo on Thai chicken last month after Bangkok confirmed it was suffering an outbreak of the disease, which has since spread and killed 13 people across Asia.
“We are taking every possible measure to prevent the introduction of avian influenza from the countries affected in Asia based on international guidelines,” said EU health commissioner David Byrne.
“Although the risk of importing the virus in meat or meat products is probably low, the EU wants to make sure that any possible transmission is avoided,” the EU executive added, while noting that the ban “will be kept under constant review with a view to amending it earlier if the situation allows.”
The EU ban, which will now run until August 15, concerns imports of poultry from Thailand and pet birds from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.
The EU imported 136,000 tonnes of Thai chicken products in the first 11 months of 2003, about one per cent of its total chicken imports, according to Commission figures. Ninety per cent of the Thai meat went to Britain, Germany and the Netherlands.
Experts say the virus is transmitted to humans through close contact with infected live chickens, rather than by eating their meat. Thailand does not export live poultry or hatching eggs to the EU.
The EU decision came as the bird flu virus tightened its grip on Asia yesterday, claiming its 13th victim with the death of a seven-year-old Thai boy, and China reported suspected outbreaks in two more provinces.
Thailand is investigating another 18 suspected cases of bird flu infections of which 11 people have died, including a four-year-old boy who passed away Tuesday.
But German health authorities said yesterday that a woman suspected to be Europe’s first human case of the bird flu did not in fact have the disease.
Specifically the EU ban covers imports from Thailand including fresh poultry meat, farmed feathered game, meat preparations and products, and raw pet food, as well as unprocessed feed material made from poultry products.
It does not apply to imports of Thai chickens that were slaughtered before January 1, or that have been heat-treated to over 70 degrees Celsius (158 degrees Fahrenheit) before being processed.
EU chicken producers are required to send back consignments of Thai chicken received after January 1.
The commission said it had not issued a ban on non-pet birds from other Asian countries afflicted by bird flu because “the import of any of these products from these countries is not allowed for other reasons.”
The EU last year tackled an outbreak of a different bird flu strain which killed a veterinarian in the Netherlands and prompted the cull of 25 million chickens.
Byrne, noting that the commission decision had the full support of EU member states, added: “Clearly, we must all remain vigilant and member states must ensure that the import ban is fully respected at ports and airports.” – AFP


photo;An Indian chicken vendor weighs his chickens in a Bombay market yesterday. Outbreaks of avian influenza or bird flu affecting poultry have been reported in 10 Asian nations. India has reported no cases of bird flu so far. – AFP
Last update on: 4-2-2004