ORAC
19th Oct 2005, 08:26
The Times: Air travellers face customs searches
CHECKS have started on all air passengers from Turkey and Romania to prevent the spread of avian flu to Britain. Every traveller is being asked by customs officers whether they are bringing in any food products and dogs are being used to screen luggage. A number of bags and suitcases were taken away for further inspection yesterday. The move was ordered by Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, after confirmed cases of the H5NI avian flu strain in those countries.
Checks will also be extended to flights from Greece if the strain is confirmed in turkeys on the island of Oinousa. Initial tests found that the poultry was infected with H5 virus but further analysis is needed to see if it is the H5NI strain. Virologists at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency in Weybridge, Surrey, are on standby to test samples from the island.
Checks are being made on eight scheduled daily flights to Heathrow, seven from Turkey and one from Romania, and on charter flights to Gatwick and Stansted. Chris Pratt, the chief animal origins officer for HM Revenue and Customs at Heathrow, said: “We have been asked to increase checks on flights coming in from these countries. We are looking out specifically for birds, dead or alive, eggs and feathers imported in people’s personal luggage.”
Sweden has also imposed checks on travellers and their baggage arriving from Turkey and Romania. Paraguay stepped up checks at customs checkpoints after confirmation of a low-risk avian flu strain on a chicken farm in Colombia. South American nations are to duscuss bird flu in Montevideo tomorrow.
Jordan, a favourite stop for migratory birds, has banned all imports of poultry and live birds from all countries with avian flu outbreaks.
CHECKS have started on all air passengers from Turkey and Romania to prevent the spread of avian flu to Britain. Every traveller is being asked by customs officers whether they are bringing in any food products and dogs are being used to screen luggage. A number of bags and suitcases were taken away for further inspection yesterday. The move was ordered by Margaret Beckett, the Environment Secretary, after confirmed cases of the H5NI avian flu strain in those countries.
Checks will also be extended to flights from Greece if the strain is confirmed in turkeys on the island of Oinousa. Initial tests found that the poultry was infected with H5 virus but further analysis is needed to see if it is the H5NI strain. Virologists at the Veterinary Laboratory Agency in Weybridge, Surrey, are on standby to test samples from the island.
Checks are being made on eight scheduled daily flights to Heathrow, seven from Turkey and one from Romania, and on charter flights to Gatwick and Stansted. Chris Pratt, the chief animal origins officer for HM Revenue and Customs at Heathrow, said: “We have been asked to increase checks on flights coming in from these countries. We are looking out specifically for birds, dead or alive, eggs and feathers imported in people’s personal luggage.”
Sweden has also imposed checks on travellers and their baggage arriving from Turkey and Romania. Paraguay stepped up checks at customs checkpoints after confirmation of a low-risk avian flu strain on a chicken farm in Colombia. South American nations are to duscuss bird flu in Montevideo tomorrow.
Jordan, a favourite stop for migratory birds, has banned all imports of poultry and live birds from all countries with avian flu outbreaks.