Avian Influenza outbreaks in Saint Lucia ,Restricts Importation Of Poultry From UK & Europe

Castries, Saint Lucia :Saint Lucia has provisionally limited the importation of chicken from the United Kingdom, and Europe, calling the Avian Influenza breaks.

The Veterinary & Livestock Services Division regarding the Ministry of Agriculture told local merchants of the measure in a letter.

The letter remarked that the division had monitored and decided the current situation at Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in Europe and the UK in particular.

It stated that as a result, a temporary restriction had been placed on the importation of fresh, chilled and frozen poultry meat from the UK and Europe with immediate effect.

The limitation also applies to the importation of alive birds and hatchling eggs from the UK.

According to the Veterinary and Livestock Division, processed chicken stored in hermetically sealed containers and managed to destroy the HPAI virus can be imported.

But it must be accompanied by an International Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the United Kingdom Veterinary Authority, attesting that it was so treated.

The Veterinary and Livestock Division says it will continue to monitor the situation and advise of any further developments.

According to the United States Centres for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), Asian HPAI H5N1 viruses have infected the respiratory tract of humans, causing severe illness such as pneumonia and respiratory failure and death in some people.