(Bloomberg) — The Philippines has banned imports of birds and poultry products from Australia following recent cases of bird flu in the country.
Reported outbreaks of H7N3 and H7N9 occurred in Victoria, confirmed by the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness. Manila’s Department of Agriculture released a statement on Saturday.
A memorandum signed by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel on June 6 allowed shipments of domestic and wild birds from Australia. The condition was that they were slaughtered or produced on or before May 9, as per the statement.
The Philippines imported 5,365 metric tons of chicken meat from Australia, making it the fourth-largest source. Additionally, during the same period, they brought in 46,987 heads of day-old chicks and 30,780 hatching eggs.
The World Health Organization noted Australia’s first human H5N1 avian influenza case, likely contracted during a trip to India. The hospitalized 2 1/2-year-old girl recovered after intensive care in Melbourne.
The WHO said 891 cases of human infection with H5N1 were reported from 2003 through May 22 this year, including 463 deaths. The cases spanned two dozen countries.
Moreover, the imposition of the Philippines poultry ban reflects the global concern over the spread of avian influenza and the need for coordinated efforts to prevent its transmission. International cooperation and information sharing are crucial in addressing the challenges posed by outbreaks of infectious diseases like bird flu.
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