Okaz/Saudi Gazette

RIYADH — Inspectors of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture seized 1,008 birds being transported from Riyadh to Makkah without permit.

Given the recent spread of the bird flu in various parts of the country, the ministry imposed restrictions on selling and transportation of birds in the Kingdom.

The seized birds were being transported in two shipments. The violators will be penalized, the ministry said.

They face a maximum fine of SR1 million or imprisonment for five years and the suspension of commercial license.

Eleven new cases of avian flu were detected on Saturday alone. Five of the patients were in Al-Ahsa, four in Dharmaa and one in Al-Kharj. Another patient was in Houtat Bani Naeem governorate. All of these patients contracted the disease after direct contact with the birds.

The ministry’s laboratories received a total of 2,541 samples for analysis. The samples were collected from bird markets all over the Kingdom, particularly of birds kept in unhygienic environments based on reports the ministry received from the public.