Philippines bans imports of poultry from Nebr., Va.

    MANILA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Philippine Department of Agriculture(DA) has temporarily banned all imports of domestic and wild birds along with poultry products from Virginia and Nebraska of the United States, after authorities confirmed the presence of avian influenza virus in these states.

    In a statement to media on Tuesday, the DA said the latest ban is based on a July 23 report submitted by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on the presence of the avian influenza virus H5N1 in Virginia and H7N9 in Nebraska.

    Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said this ban and other emergency measures are necessary to protect human health and the poultry industry in the Philippines, which has remained free of bird flu.

    The Philippines is one of only three bird flu-free countries in Southeast Asia, the two others being Brunei and Singapore.

    "I have ordered DA quarantine officers and inspectors at all major airports and seaports to stop and confiscate all shipments of live birds, poultry and poultry products into the country originating from Nebraska and Virginia," Yap said.

    The ban covers all "domestic and wild birds and their products, including day-old chicks and eggs," he said.