UAE bans import of birds and animals from two African countries

Dubai: Live birds from South Africa and ruminants from Madagascar will not be allowed into the UAE. Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, has issued a ministerial decree to this effect.

The decree called on the ministry's department of animal resources and all other related administrative units to coordinate with concerned authorities in the country to implement the decree.

The temporary measure, which will last until further notice, is a precautionary move against the detection of bird flu in South Africa and rift valley fever in Madagascar.

The ministry took the step following a World Organisation for Animal Health report about detecting bird flu in South Africa and rift valley fever in Madagascar.