Fearing deadly H5N1, Afghans curb poultry imports

KABUL, Feb 18 (Reuters) Afghanistan has banned poultry imports to prevent the spread of the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird fly virus, an official said today.

The H5N1 strain was found in poultry in at least four provinces last year, leading to the killing of thousands of birds, but their were no human deaths.

''This decision is part of a precuationary and preventive measure,'' health ministry adviser doctor Abdullah Fahim said.

Afghanistan imports a large amount of poultry, mostly from Pakistan, but the ban imposed last week also applies to other countries hit by H5N1, including Britain, Turkey and Indonesia.

The country also lies at the junction of Central and South Asia and is on the migration route for several species of wild birds.

Fahim said the government was also focussing on public awareness programmes about the virus.

Poultry-keeping and hunting are common in Afghanistan, but many farmers and traders are illiterate and bird flu awareness is minimal.

Scientists fear the virus could mutate into a form that jumps easily between people and start a global flu pandemic. Although only 204 people are known to have been infected so far worldwide, 113 have died.

REUTERS PB ND1352