BRIDGETOWN, Barbados– Barbados has placed a temporary ban on importing live birds, poultry, and poultry products from the United States Canada due to an outbreak of a new strain of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza virus, commonly referred to as “bird flu.”
A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Nutritional Security quoted Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Mark Trotman as saying that there is potential for this strain of the virus to affect people, especially those who interact or work with infected birds or potentially infected mammals.
“As with most diseases that are not present in this area, the best protection is strengthening quarantine measures,” he said, adding that these will be implemented with immediate effect.
According to the authorities, permits for all personal imports of live birds, hatching eggs, and poultry products (fresh, frozen, and chilled) from the US and Canada are suspended. Any private permits previously issued for the above are being revoked.
They said that only fully cooked poultry products in hermetically sealed packages (cans) would be permitted. For import, safe poultry products must be heat-treated, dried, and canned; such effects include feathers and dry/canned dog food.
Trotman said that these restrictions do not apply to commercial imports since those products would be officially certified by the appropriate veterinary authorities as having originated from disease-free areas only and, therefore, safe to import and consume.
“The Veterinary Services will continue to monitor the developing situation of this disease and issue updates to the public as necessary,” the statement noted.