Hong Kong has banned the import of certain poultry and poultry products from the US due to an avian flu virus outbreak in the country.
Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic (HPAI) H5 avian influenza in wild birds in Whatcom County, Washington.
The agencies also identified two separate virus strains such as HPAI H5N2 in northern pintail ducks and HPAI H5N8 in captive Gyrfalcons.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said that the country has banned the import of poultry meat and products, including poultry eggs, from the US with immediate effect.
CFS spokesperson said: "We will be in close liaison with the American authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the World Organisation for Animal Health on avian influenza outbreaks in the country.
Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation."
Earlier this month, HK suspended the import of poultry and poultry products from countries like Germany, Canada, Italy and Japan.
Recently, South Korea also banned imports of US poultry and poultry products.
