Philippines temporarily bans poultry imports from three U.S. states as bird flu spreads

PHILIPPINES – The Philippines has halted poultry imports from Indiana, New York, and Pennsylvania due to ongoing bird flu outbreaks in these states.

Agriculture Secretary Tiu Laurel announced that the temporary restriction applies to domestic and wild birds, along with poultry products such as meat, eggs, and day-old chicks.

He explained that multiple cases of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) were reported in these states in January and February, prompting stricter import controls.

The Department of Agriculture stated that the virus has spread rapidly in a short time, necessitating broader trade restrictions to prevent further transmission.

This comes as HPAI continues to affect commercial and backyard poultry farms across the US, with several new outbreaks confirmed.

Ohio has reported infections on four additional layer farms and three turkey farms, further raising concerns about the virus’s reach.

Pennsylvania has identified five more affected locations, while Missouri is dealing with outbreaks at both a turkey farm and a broiler facility.

In New York, authorities have temporarily shut down live bird markets in Queens, the Bronx, and Brooklyn after detecting HPAI cases.

Smaller poultry farms in Louisiana, Connecticut, and Washington have also been impacted, with officials urging preventive measures ahead of the upcoming spring migration of wild birds.

Since the initial detection of HPAI in U.S. poultry in early 2022, over 157.7 million birds have died nationwide, including those in Puerto Rico.

U.S. Allocates US$1 Billion to Combat Bird Flu

In response to the crisis, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has unveiled a US$1 billion initiative to tackle bird flu outbreaks and stabilize egg prices.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins outlined the plan, which sets aside US$500 million for biosecurity measures, US$400 million in financial aid for farmers, and US$100 million for vaccine research and regulatory changes.

Rollins criticized previous efforts by the Biden administration, stating that they failed to prevent recurring outbreaks and control rising egg prices.

She added that the Trump administration is focused on finding long-term solutions to ensure affordable food and support struggling farmers.

To limit the spread of the virus, USDA is expanding its Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments, prioritizing egg-laying facilities where the risk of infection is highest.

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