Singapore has suspended the imports of live birds, poultry and poultry products from the state of Kentucky in the United States.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore said the suspension came into effect last week, following an outbreak of the Low Pathogenic Notifiable Avian Influenza H7N9 virus at a farm in Grayson County, Kentucky.
It was reported to the World Animal Health Organisation.
H5 and H7 strains of the virus are notifiable as they may develop to become highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses and cause serious outbreaks.
The export of poultry and poultry products from other avian influenza-free states in the US are not affected.
Heat-processed poultry products from Kentucky will not be affected by the import suspension.
AVA on Wednesday said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and will take more measures if other US states are hit by the outbreak.
Kentucky exported 340 tonnes of frozen poultry to Singapore from Jan 1 last year to April 8 this year.
Singapore imports frozen chicken mainly from Brazil while live chicken usually comes in from Malaysia.
Sinapore imported a total of 165,278 tonnes of chicken last year.
Source: Straits Times
