Japan bans Canadian poultry

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Article Date: 10 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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A second, more virulent strain of avian flu (bird flu) has been found in British Columbia, Canada. As a result, the Japanese Agriculture Ministry has said that it is banning all poultry imports from Canada.

Only a few days ago the Japanese had just lifted a ban on Canadian poultry imports. This ban had been imposed in February.

Japan had banned all bird imports from many Asian countries. In Asia millions of birds have died of Avian Flu and 22 people have died.

Last Friday Japan had allowed imports to resume from Canada, with the exception of poultry from British Columbia.

After being told by the Canadian Government that a more virulent strain emerged in British Columbia the Japanese government decided to reintroduce the ban.

This new ban will last at least 90 days.

Less than 1% of Japan's chicken imports come from Canada.

Japan has its own bird flu problems. More than 200,000 birds have died or been culled in Japan since January, when the bird flu outbreak started in Japan.

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