MANILA: The Philippines has banned the import of live birds and poultry from Japan after reports of a bird flu outbreak there, the agriculture department said on Monday.

The ban was needed to protect people as well as the poultry industry in the Philippines, which has been free of bird flu, it said on its website.

"There is a possibility that travellers may bring in pet birds, poultry and poultry products from Japan," the statement quoted Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap as saying.

Last November, a similar ban on all live bird and poultry imports from South Korea was issued after the bird flu virus was also detected in that country.

The Philippines, Singapore and Brunei are the only bird flu-free countries in Southeast Asia.

Experts fear the H5N1 avian influenza virus could mutate into a form easily transmissible between humans, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions. - AFP/so