Mexico bans poultry imports from Arkansas, USA

Mexico will block poultry imports from Arkansas until further notice, following an outbreak of avian influenza there earlier this month, the Agriculture Ministry said last week. "This precautionary measure is being put into effect to avoid the risk of introduction of the agent into national territory," the ministry said in an " urgent" letter to Mexico's federal meat inspection agency. The strain, which U.S. officials have said is "very low risk" and poses little threat to humans or livestock, was detected at the beginning of June in a flock of 15,000 chickens owned by Tyson Foods, Inc.