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| Japanese health officers packing dead chickens onto a truck in Japan. Three chickens at a farm in western Japan have tested positive for bird flu in what may be the country's fifth outbreak of the disease |
Basseterre, St. Kitts (March 3rd 2004) – St. Kitts and Nevis has banned the importation of poultry products, mainly chicken, eggs, and pet birds, from several countries that have reported the presence of bird flu.
“Fears of bird flu outbreaks in Asia, North America, Trinidad and other parts of the world have prompted numerous calls to several Government Agencies,” said Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Ms. Vesta Southwell.
“In this regard the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health have confirmed that bans have been placed on importation of poultry products, mainly chicken, eggs, and pet birds, from those countries and regions of the United States of America, including Texas, that have reported the presence of bird flu,” said Southwell.
She gave the general public an assurance that the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs will take all necessary measures to protect both the human and animal populations from all strains of bird-flu.
Ms. Southwell said the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Affairs is collaborating with all the relevant public and private sector agencies in ensuring that protective measures are not only adequate and appropriate to the risk posed to human and animal health, but that such measures do not result in unnecessary, costly disruptions of supplies.
“The major portion of poultry imports is from the United States, but a significant portion comes from the European Union, particularly the United Kingdom. To date there has been no reported outbreak of bird flu in Europe and the European Union has imposed bans on importation of poultry from those parts of the world that are affected by bird flu. Accordingly, Europe continues to be a safe and adequate source of poultry supplies,” said Ms. Southwell.
She said the Ministry does not anticipate any significant disruptions to the supply of poultry in the near future and is imploring the continued co-operation of all consumers, local poultry farmers and importers of poultry and pet birds, in the ongoing, collaborative effort to protect all residents of St. Kitts and Nevis from this very contagious bird flu epidemic.
