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Kabul: Afghanistan has banned poultry imports to prevent the spread of the deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus, an official said on Sunday.
The H5N1 strain was found in poultry in at least four provinces in 2006, leading to the killing of thousands of birds, although there were no human deaths.
Health ministry adviser doctor Abdullah Fahim said, "This decision is part of a precautionary and preventive measure."
He added that the government was also focussing on public awareness programmes about the virus.
Afghanistan imports a large amount of poultry, mostly from Pakistan, but the ban imposed last week also applies to other countries hit by H5N1, including Britain, Turkey and Indonesia.
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