U.S. Relaxes Ban on Poultry From Canada
- From: "Chim" <ChimS1@xxxxxxx>
- Date: 29 Nov 2005 19:15:03 -0800
WASHINGTON (Nov. 29) - The United States has relaxed a ban on poultry
imports from British Columbia initially sparked by the discovery of
bird flu in a duck raised in the Canadian province.
The strain of bird flu is now known to be low-pathogenic and poses no
threat to human health, unlike the more virulent form in Asia that has
killed dozens of people, the Agriculture Department.
U.S. officials said they banned on Nov. 21 all poultry imports from
British Columbia until their Canadian counterparts could identify the
virus, later found on a second, nearby farm as well. Several Asian
countries that quickly followed the U.S. lead now are expected to relax
their bans as well.
In the days after the Nov. 18 discovery of the virus, Canadian
officials killed nearly 58,000 ducks and geese on the two farms,
located outside Vancouver, said Brian Evans, Canada's chief veterinary
officer.
The strain of flu doesn't kill poultry, but can leave them sickened and
weak. Proper cooking kills the virus, health officials said.
The Agriculture Department said it would maintain the import ban on
birds from within a three-mile radius of the two British Columbia
farms. Evans said the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is maintaining a
voluntary ban on exports from the quarantine area and is carrying out
ongoing testing of birds on the 78 farms within the area.
Farmers typically destroy entire flocks of birds when they discover the
virus. A 2004 outbreak of bird flu in British Columbia led to the
slaughter of 17 million birds.
The United States continues to ban bird imports from nations where the
high-pathogenic virus from Asia has been detected. They include
Cambodia, Romania, China, Russia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan,
Thailand, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Laos, Vietnam and Malaysia.
11/29/05 12:32 EST
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. The information contained in the
AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise
distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated
Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
.
- Prev by Date: Re: Halting HIV/AIDS Needs Bold Responses
- Next by Date: PM Hun Sen Said King Sihamoni Will Sign Supplemental Treaty on November 30
- Previous by thread: Complexe de culpabilité
- Next by thread: PM Hun Sen Said King Sihamoni Will Sign Supplemental Treaty on November 30
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
