MINSK: New cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 have been registered in 16 U.S. states, the Veterinary and Food Control Department at the Belarusian Agriculture and Food Ministry told BelTA with reference to the World Organization for Animal Health.
In view of the widespread disease, on 23 June Belarus will introduce temporary restrictions on the import and transit of live birds, incubator eggs, down hair and feather, poultry meat and all kinds of poultry-breeding products, forage and forage additives made of poultry, and second-hand equipment used to keep and slaughter poultry from the United States.
All the previously issued permits to import and transit the above-mentioned products from the United States will be cancelled.
Avian bird flu is a contagious disease resulting in inhibition, swelling, affection of breathing organs and digestion. The state of the diseased can vary from no symptoms to heavy generalized forms of septic fever. The disease’s economic damage is huge due to mass mortality of diseased birds, the need to take quarantine and veterinary control measures, including the slaughter of diseased birds.
