Hong Kong bans Poland poultry imports after bird flu report

HONG KONG (XFN-ASIA) - Hong Kong today suspended the import of poultry from Poland after Warsaw reported its first cases of the deadly bird flu virus among domestic birds, the government said.

'The decision was taken following confirmation of a case involving the highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 on two poultry farms there,' said a spokesman for the Center for Food Safety.

The strain was detected on two turkey farms in central Poland on Dec 1. Bird flu was found last year in the country, but in wild birds.

Hong Kong, which was the scene of the world's first reported major bird flu outbreak among humans in 1997, imported about 5,900 tonnes of frozen poultry products from Poland from January to August this year.

Source:forbes.com,

H5N1 bird flu found in central Poland, govt plays down impact

WARSAW (Thomson Financial) - Authorities have quarantined two poultry farms near the central Polish city of Plock after finding two cases of the deadliest strain of bird flu, known as H5N1, officials said over the weekend.

Farm minister Marek Sawicki said the producers affected would receive compensation for the killing of livestock in connection with the discovery, adding he expects the losses to be minimal, the PAP state news agency quoted him as saying.

Poland has reported bird flu cases in wild birds in recent years, but this is the first to hit commercial farms.

Source:forbes.com