In order to prevent the spread of the H5N1 virus (bird flu) from Turkey, Armenia’s Ministry of Agriculture today issued a directive forbidding the importation of live poultry and poultry products from that country.

On May 4, Reuters reported that Turkey had announced an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu virus in a backyard in the northern province of Kastamonu, the first case of the highly pathogenic strain in seven years, according to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

The ministry’s decision covers all such products exported from Turkey after April 23.