RIYADH, 3 November 2005 — Saudi Arabia yesterday banned the importing of all types of poultry into its territory in efforts to protect the Kingdom against bird flu. “The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to ban the entrance of all types of poultry into the kingdom as a precautionary measure to avert the entrance of the disease (the bird flu) via air, sea or land ports of entry,” said a statement by the ministry. Meanwhile, Dr. Abdul Aziz Abu Zinada, secretary-general of the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development, emphasized his organization’s efforts to prevent the spread of bird flu by banning import of falcons from countries infected by the disease. The NCWCD has also banned hunting of migratory birds.
