UAE bans import of birds from India

The United Arab Emirates has enforced a temporary ban on imports of all kinds of birds from India after bird flu was detected there.

Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, Minister of Environment and Waters, said the ban covers "all domestic and wild birds, including ornamental birds, and their products." The decision was taken as a precautionary measure following reports by the World Organisation for Animal Health on the emergence of bird flu cases in India, the official Emirates news agency said.

India confirmed last Thursday an outbreak of bird flu in poultry in the remote northeast part of the country was the H5N1 strain. In June, the UAE has lifted a ban on Indian table egg.