The Iraqi government has banned imports of live birds, feathers, eggs and poultry products from 21 countries worldwide, amid fears of a looming avian flu pandemic.The government, led by Prime MinisterNouri al-Maliki, claims it is actions on instructions from the World Animal Health Organisation, stating its commitment to protecting citizens from outside health threats. According to an official statement, all bird-related product important from Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Canada, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, the Netherlands, the Palestinian Territories, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka and Vietnam will all be banned entry into the country. “The decision was made to preserve the safety of Iraqi citizens from this infectious disease,” the statement said. Health Ministry spokesman Ziad Tariq meanwhile announced in a press statement: “The Ministry faces a problem in addressing the spread of the epidemic caused by a lack of health awareness among citizens.” However, earlier Ministry statements had claimed that influenza was “controlled and posed no threat to the health of the public.” On January 22, Iraq had 36 recorded cases of avian flu, including two new cases discovered in Wasit, Karbala.