Albania tightens up measures for prevention of bird flu

Albania has tightened up preventive measures against bird flu, the country's ministry of agriculture, food and consumer's protection announced Friday.

"In all Albanian customs and border points severe measures have been taken to prohibit import of chickens, livestock as well as dairy products from Asian countries due to the outbreak of bird flu," the official source of the ministry said.

According to the ministry, currently, the birds, chickens and eggs are imported to the country only from the states defined by the European Community, but they are also subjected to a veterinary control operating 24 hours close to the customs points.

Referring to controls exerted on national scale, no sign of such epidemic has so far appeared in the country, the ministry said.

Otherwise, a task force has been established recently by the country's minister of health for handling the prevention of any eventual bird flu cases and preparing the strategic program of health emergency in case of the outbreak of the epidemic.

Source: Xinhua