By Lane McConnell
ABC NEWS
14/09/2006
Following the diagnose of H5N1 bird flu virus in Maryland and Pennsylvania, Russia has banned imports from the states.
Russia is the top consumer of U.S. poultry and the Agriculture Ministry said on Monday that imports of live birds, poultry meat and poultry products, as well as poultry feed and used equipment for poultry keeping and slaughtering from these states, have been suspended.
In early September a low-pathogenic strain of H5N1 virus was confirmed in Pennsylvania after the discovery in Michigan and Maryland, but the strain has no threat to humans.
Russia has also banned poultry imports from Michigan.
