Lovebirds fall foul of avian flu fears
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An imported lovebird peeks out of its cage before being burned with 300 others in Manila Monday.
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MANILA, Philippines (Reuters) -- Fears over the avian flu outbreak sweeping Asia have put a damper on Valentine's Day preparations in the Philippines as officials destroyed 350 lovebirds.
"We could not take any chances," said Davinio Catbagan, chief of the animal quarantine service at Manila international airport, after authorities learned that the birds had passed through Bangkok en route from Amsterdam.
Thailand is one of 11 Asian countries hit by the deadly virus that has killed 18 people and prompted the culling of millions of chickens and other birds across the region. The Philippines has reported no cases so far.
Catbagan said eight of the lovebirds had died since arriving in Manila on February 4 but that no tests had been done to determine whether any had the H5N1 avian flu virus.
"We cannot afford to do it," he said.
A businessman, who planned to set up an aviary as part of a restaurant in the province of Bulacan, imported the birds from Amsterdam, said Cesar Templo, an airport customs official.
The colorful birds were confiscated and killed on Monday after the Department of Agriculture ordered them destroyed because the shipment lacked a proper import permit, Templo said.
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