Russia discovers bird flu virus in British poulty, bans import

Russia discovers bird flu virus in British poulty, bans import

Russia has banned imports of poultry products from Britain after the H5N1 strain of bird flu was found on a farm owned by Europe's largest turkey producer, officials said Monday.

The ban, which will take effect Tuesday applied to deliveries of live birds, eggs and bird meat as well as poultry feed and equipment for breeding, butchering and dressing, Russia's veterinary watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, said in a statement, reports AP.

The ban came after about 2,500 turkeys died of the virus on a farm owned by Bernard Matthews PLC in Suffolk county, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) northeast of London. It was the first time H5N1 has been found on a British farm.