Azerbaijan limits meat imports over swine flu threat
The State Veterinary Service of Azerbaijan`s
Agriculture Ministry on Monday introduced restrictions on the
imports of animal products from countries where swine flu has been
discovered.
At the same time, the Service said there was no threat of this virus spreading in the country. Its spokesman, Yolchu Khanvali, said that, so far, no meat or meat products have arrived from Mexico where the virus was found first. Only poultry was brought to Azerbaijan from the Americas a few months ago. Nonetheless, the veterinary service has stepped up oversight in local pig stalls. Swine-breeding facilities are now operating in enclosed conditions as the entry of outsiders to the facilities has been banned.
Swine flu has already claimed 150 lives in Mexico and over 1,000 people have been hospitalized for treatment.
Moreover, 21 people are said to have contracted swine flu in the US, Mexico`s neighbor. Cases of infection have also been reported in New Zealand, Spain, Canada, France, Britain and Israel.
Researchers have concluded that most of those infected with the virus have recently visited Mexico. Ad hoc commissions have been set up in countries around the globe and medical attention heeded in airports to fight its spread.
Work schedule has been tightened at the Heydar Aliyev international airport of Baku in the wake of the swine flu threat, the spokesman for the state airline AzAL, Maharram Safarli, said.
Safarli said AzAL was conducting awareness conversations with passengers traveling to and from the country as well as with service personnel. Moreover, airplanes have been provided with disinfecting substances. According to him, people coming to Azerbaijan are being asked questions about their health condition. In addition to that, a unit of the Health Ministry`s service in charge of sanitation has been opened at the airport.
At the same time, the Service said there was no threat of this virus spreading in the country. Its spokesman, Yolchu Khanvali, said that, so far, no meat or meat products have arrived from Mexico where the virus was found first. Only poultry was brought to Azerbaijan from the Americas a few months ago. Nonetheless, the veterinary service has stepped up oversight in local pig stalls. Swine-breeding facilities are now operating in enclosed conditions as the entry of outsiders to the facilities has been banned.
Swine flu has already claimed 150 lives in Mexico and over 1,000 people have been hospitalized for treatment.
Moreover, 21 people are said to have contracted swine flu in the US, Mexico`s neighbor. Cases of infection have also been reported in New Zealand, Spain, Canada, France, Britain and Israel.
Researchers have concluded that most of those infected with the virus have recently visited Mexico. Ad hoc commissions have been set up in countries around the globe and medical attention heeded in airports to fight its spread.
Work schedule has been tightened at the Heydar Aliyev international airport of Baku in the wake of the swine flu threat, the spokesman for the state airline AzAL, Maharram Safarli, said.
Safarli said AzAL was conducting awareness conversations with passengers traveling to and from the country as well as with service personnel. Moreover, airplanes have been provided with disinfecting substances. According to him, people coming to Azerbaijan are being asked questions about their health condition. In addition to that, a unit of the Health Ministry`s service in charge of sanitation has been opened at the airport.
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