First avian flu case in broiler chicken discovered in Wafra; PAAAFR destroys 180,000 eggs, 250 tons of fodder
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/kuwait/Viewdet.asp?ID=10190&cat=a
KUWAIT CITY : The first case of avian flu in broiler chicken has been discovered in a poultry farm in Wafra, says a reliable source at the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR).Meanwhile, falcons illegally imported into Kuwait may have been the cause of an outbreak of bird flu that has forced authorities to cull about two million chickens, MPs charged on Tuesday. During a special debate, a number of lawmakers submitted official documents showing that several falcon shipments for royals and influential people were imported without the strict quarantine procedures.
The head of the government?s agriculture authority, Jassem Al-Bader, denied the allegations, insisting that all the imported falcons were properly tested and found healthy.
But he admitted that a total ban on bird imports imposed in 2005 following the discovery of the first bird flu case in Kuwait was eased in July 2006 to allow the import of falcons.Bader said that the last falcon shipment allowed was in late 2006.
?Lifting the ban on falcons was a catastrophe. Why were they exempted from the ban despite warnings by doctors?? countered Islamist MP Jamaan Al-Harbash. MPs decided to ask the parliament?s health committee to study the situation and report back to the house.
Kuwait reported the outbreak on Feb 25 when it announced that 20 birds, including 18 falcons, had tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu.
In the meantime, Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has destroyed 180,000 eggs and 250 tons of fodder from eight poultries, which tested positive of bird flu virus, reports Al-Qabas daily.
The PAAAFR issued three decisions on Tuesday banning the import of animals from South Africa, Ecuador and Iraq.
In a press release, PAAAFR said the first decision bans import of horses from South Africa because of the spread of the African horse plague there, according to the world organisation for animal health (OIE). The second decision temporarily bans the import of livestock from Ecuador due to information from the OIE while the third prohibits the import of all live animals from Iraq, it added.
By Faisal Al-Qahtani
Special to the Arab Times And Agencies
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/kuwait/Viewdet.asp?ID=10190&cat=a
KUWAIT CITY : The first case of avian flu in broiler chicken has been discovered in a poultry farm in Wafra, says a reliable source at the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR).Meanwhile, falcons illegally imported into Kuwait may have been the cause of an outbreak of bird flu that has forced authorities to cull about two million chickens, MPs charged on Tuesday. During a special debate, a number of lawmakers submitted official documents showing that several falcon shipments for royals and influential people were imported without the strict quarantine procedures.
The head of the government?s agriculture authority, Jassem Al-Bader, denied the allegations, insisting that all the imported falcons were properly tested and found healthy.
But he admitted that a total ban on bird imports imposed in 2005 following the discovery of the first bird flu case in Kuwait was eased in July 2006 to allow the import of falcons.Bader said that the last falcon shipment allowed was in late 2006.
?Lifting the ban on falcons was a catastrophe. Why were they exempted from the ban despite warnings by doctors?? countered Islamist MP Jamaan Al-Harbash. MPs decided to ask the parliament?s health committee to study the situation and report back to the house.
Kuwait reported the outbreak on Feb 25 when it announced that 20 birds, including 18 falcons, had tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu.
In the meantime, Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has destroyed 180,000 eggs and 250 tons of fodder from eight poultries, which tested positive of bird flu virus, reports Al-Qabas daily.
The PAAAFR issued three decisions on Tuesday banning the import of animals from South Africa, Ecuador and Iraq.
In a press release, PAAAFR said the first decision bans import of horses from South Africa because of the spread of the African horse plague there, according to the world organisation for animal health (OIE). The second decision temporarily bans the import of livestock from Ecuador due to information from the OIE while the third prohibits the import of all live animals from Iraq, it added.
By Faisal Al-Qahtani
Special to the Arab Times And Agencies