Vietnam halts poultry imports from avian flu hit US states
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The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) issued a decision to halt the imports from March 10, saying that these two US states were facing a strain of low pathogenic H5N2 and the high-pathogenicity H7 avian influenza virus.
MARD has instructed the Veterinary Department to tighten control over the poultry batches imported before March 10 from these states but have not yet been heat treated to eliminate the aviation flu.
Earlier, the US Department of Agriculture said on Sunday that a farm in southern Tennessee that is a supplier to Tyson Foods had been infected with avian flu. Up to 73,500 birds were killed by the disease, while the remainder has since been suffocated with foam to prevent its spread.
The outbreak raised concerns among chicken companies because the infected farm is located near the biggest-producing states for chicken meat, including Georgia and Alabama.
US trading partners, including South Korea and Japan, earlier restricted shipments of US poultry because of the infection in Tennessee.
Questions & Answers
Q.Which specific US states are affected by Vietnam's poultry import ban?
Which specific US states are affected by Vietnam's poultry import ban?
The article states that Vietnam has halted imports from two unnamed US states that are facing a strain of low pathogenic H5N2 and high-pathogenicity H7 avian influenza virus. No specific state names are provided for the ban itself.
Q.What measures is Vietnam taking for poultry shipments that arrived before the ban?
What measures is Vietnam taking for poultry shipments that arrived before the ban?
MARD has instructed the Veterinary Department to tighten control over poultry batches imported before March 10 from the affected US states. This applies to shipments that have not yet been heat treated to eliminate avian flu.
Q.Why are chicken companies concerned about the avian flu outbreak in Tennessee?
Why are chicken companies concerned about the avian flu outbreak in Tennessee?
Chicken companies are worried because the infected farm is located near major chicken meat-producing states, such as Georgia and Alabama. This proximity raises fears about the potential spread of the disease across the region.
Q.Have other countries also restricted US poultry imports due to avian flu?
Have other countries also restricted US poultry imports due to avian flu?
Yes, prior to Vietnam's decision, US trading partners including South Korea and Japan had already restricted shipments of US poultry. This was in response to the avian flu infection found in Tennessee.
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