South Korea and Japan suspend poultry imports from New York - NEW YORK - South Korea and Japan have suspended poultry imports from New York, following a USDA confirmation of a low-pathogenic H7N2 virus outbreak there.

Despite reports from the US poultry industry that the H7N2 strain is harmless to humans, the South Korean government is still awaiting further confirmation from the US that the virus would not mutate into the highly pathogenic H5N1 form, before lifting the suspension.

South Korea has yet to import any US poultry after lifting a ban in early May. The ban was imposed in February 2004 following an outbreak of bird flu in the state of Delaware.

Experts are currently holding an international meeting in Liverpool, England, to discuss the threat of killer diseases such as bird flu, reports say.

Source: eFeedLink - 16th June 2005