DA bans imports of live birds, poultry from Japan

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has issued a ban on the importation of all live birds, poultry and their by-products from Japan.

Reports said that the dreaded avian influenza or bird flu virus was detected in Japan.

"The ban is necessary to protect human health and the poultry industry in our country, which has remained free of bird flu ever since the H5N1 strain of virus re-emerged in Asia in 2003," said Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

The ban was based on a Jan. 13 report of the Japanese government to the Office International des Epizooties (OIE), or Animal Health Organization, confirming the presence of a highly-pathogenic strain of the bird flu virus in Japan. The DA said the ban took effect last month.

Yap said the ban covers all domestic and wild birds and their products, including day-old chicks, eggs and semen from Japan.

He said there is a possibility that travelers might bring into the country their pet birds, poultry and poultry products from Japan.

Yap directed quarantine officers and inspectors of the DA in all major airports and seaports to confiscate all shipments of the contraband from Japan.

He ordered the immediate suspension of the issuance of Veterinary Quarantine Clearances (VQCs) to all bird products from Japan.

Yap also issued on Nov. 27 last year a similar ban on the importation of all live birds and poultry from Korea where the bird flu virus was also detected.

Citing reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), the DA said that as of Jan. 29, 164 people out of the 270 people infected with the bird flu virus in various parts of the world have died.

WHO experts have expressed concern over the possibility that every additional human infection gives the virus a greater opportunity to mutate into a deadlier strain that will make it easier for the avian influenza to jump from fowls to humans and then from person to person, which could lead to a pandemic.

The Philippines, Singapore and Brunei are the only countries in Southeast Asia that have remained free of the bird flu virus.