Laos bans import of poultry products from China

Govt bans imports of poultry from China

The government has banned the import of poultry products from China in a bid to prevent the spread of the H7N9 avian influenza virus into the country.

The Livestock and Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry recently gave instructions to their provincial colleagues in Luang Namtha and Phongsaly, both provinces having border connections with China, to stop the import of poultry products until the outbreak of the virus has come under control.

However, the ministry has directed the health authorities in both provinces to permit the export of poultry products, the Phongsaly provincial livestock and fisheries section deputy head, Ms Somchith Keomany, told the Vientiane Times yesterday.

She said that the province had also announced this decision to local authorities as part of virus spreading prevention measures.

“The provincial livestock and fisheries section still has only limited funding to support the technical staff in the promotion of animal health in local areas,” said Ms Somchith.

“Luang Namtha province has established a bird flu prevention team to disseminate the information about the dangerous H7N9 virus and carefully monitor the virus in target areas such as the capital's markets and villages near the Chinese border,” said the provincial livestock and fisheries section head, Mr Khampheng Phanachan.

Each year, Laos imports many tonnes of poultry products including chicken, duck and other species from China through Luang Namtha and Phongsaly provinces but the authorities are unable to state the exact number of birds.

Some people are importing illegally because they live in villages close to the Chinese border, which leaves a big problem for the authorities to deal with when trying to control imports.

To prevent the virus spreading to Laos, the Livestock and Fisheries Department has also ordered the other provinces to be more vigilant in looking for any signs of it.

So far no H7N9 case has been reported in Laos but China has confirmed that 23 people were killed by the virus out of a total of 121 cases reported since the outbreak of the new subtype of avian influenza virus started, according to the China Daily News.

Other neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia have also imposed bans on the import of poultry products from China despite no H7N9 cases having been found in either place.

Taiwan health authorities confirmed the island's first human infection of H7N9 avian flu on Wednesday, the victim being a 53 year old Taiwan man who is believed to have been infected outside Taiwan as he showed symptoms three days after returning from Suzhou city in Jiangsu province.

The patient, who is hepatitis positive and suffers from high blood pressure is in serious condition, the authorities said.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update April 30, 2013)