RIYADH: The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Saturday that seven cases of H5N8 avian flu had been recorded in the country in the previous 24 hours, five in Riyadh, one in Qassim and one in Tarout Island.
Field teams in Kharj and Dharma provinces have instigated a cull of infected birds on two poultry farms — with 813 birds safely disposed of in Dharma — while an overall emergency plan is being implemented to clear the infected areas.
In Ahsa province, teams finalized measures to safely cull 1,325 birds on a number of farms where the H5N8 virus was detected. In Qassim, 800 birds were euthanized.
Veterinary teams from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture conducted 25 inspections of markets and bird-breeding farms across the Kingdom in the 24 hours before the SPA report.
The ministry has banned all poultry farms, transport firms and bird breeders from transporting birds between different regions of the Kingdom without obtaining the necessary licenses.
It also asked bird breeders in the Kingdom to avoid purchasing live birds from unknown sources, and taking their birds to unauthorized markets, in order to minimize the spread of the H5N8 avian flu.
The director of Animal Resources Services, Dr. Ibrahim Qasim, said 358,134 birds infected with the H5N8 virus have been destroyed across the Kingdom as of Friday.
Speaking to Al-Riyadh daily, he said all reported cases outside Riyadh region originated from private fenced yards and traditional farms, while some cases were reported at three poultry projects in the Riyadh region.
Dr. Abdullah Kadman, a member of the board of directors at the Saudi Poultry Producers Association, said the ministry’s ban on transporting birds between regions is expected to be lifted within two weeks.
Head of the National Committee for Poultry Producers, Jamal Al-Sadoun, has requested strict compliance with the ministry’s instructions on the transfer of birds between regions to curb the spread of the disease. He confirmed that the infections were centered in the Riyadh region, specifically Dharma, Muzahmiyah and Hiraimla.
A reported 850 samples have been sent to the Riyadh-based Veterinary Diagnosis Laboratory since the latest outbreak of the disease, some based on reports from citizens, and some randomly collected from infected areas.
New bird flu cases reported in KSA; transport of live birds between regions banned
New bird flu cases reported in KSA; transport of live birds between regions banned
Saudi Arabia, regional partners reject any move to displace Palestinians from Gaza
- Expressed deep concern over Israeli statements about the opening of the Rafah crossing in one direction only
RIYADH: The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye and Qatar on Friday expressed deep concern over Israeli statements about the opening of the Rafah crossing in one direction only, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In a joint statement, the ministers said it was a move that could facilitate the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip into Egypt.
They firmly rejected any attempts to force Palestinians from their land, stressing the need for full adherence to the plan put forward by US President Donald Trump, which stipulated opening of the Rafah crossing in both directions and guaranteeing freedom of movement without coercion.
The ministers emphasized that conditions must be created to allow Palestinians to remain on their land and take part in rebuilding their homeland, under a comprehensive framework aimed at restoring stability and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
They reiterated their appreciation for Trump’s commitment to regional peace and underscored the importance of implementing his plan in full and without obstruction.
The statement also highlighted the urgent need for a sustained ceasefire, an end to civilian suffering, unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza, and the launch of early recovery and reconstruction efforts.
The ministers further called for conditions that would enable the Palestinian Authority to resume its responsibilities in the enclave.
The eight countries reaffirmed their readiness to continue coordinating with the US and international partners to ensure full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and other relevant resolutions, in pursuit of a just and lasting peace based on international law and the two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
