Russia bans W. Va. poultry for bird flu

Russia has imposed a temporary ban on poultry products imported from West Virginia after turkeys at a Pendleton County farm tested positive for bird flu.

The country's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection said the ban, which takes effect April 6, applies to poultry products produced in the state after March 31, RIA Novosti reported Thursday.

"Due to an outbreak of bird flu virus containing H5N2 strains registered in the U.S. state of West Virginia, Rosselkhoznadzor is introducing temporary restrictions on imports of poultry products, feed-stuff and feed supplements from this state," said Alexei Alekseyenko, a spokesman for the food safety watchdog.

The West Virginia turkeys tested positive for a low-pathogenic H5N2 strain of bird flu. The high pathogenic version of the strain is dangerous to humans.

Rosselkhoznadzor said he has requested detailed information on the bird flu outbreak from U.S. food safety authorities.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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