The United Arab Emirates has banned the import of chicken and eggs from Saudi Arabia due to an outbreak of bird flu.
The UAE Ministry of Climate and Environment Change has announced a ban on the import of all types of domestic and wild birds, ornamental birds, chickens, eggs and non-heat-treated waste from Saudi Arabia.
The ministry announced that it is acting upon notification to the World Organization for Animal Health. The highly pathogenic H5N8 strain, or bird flu, caused the death of 14 birds in the capital of Saudi Arabia, the organization said on Saturday, December 23.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), no human infections with H5N8 have been identified. WHO estimates the risk of human infection as low, but the risk is not completely excluded.
