Materia Medica Malaysiana

Bird Flu Outbreak In Tumpat An Isolated Case, Says Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- The virus which infected two chickens in Kampung Pasir Pekan, Wakaf Baru, Tumpat, is the pathogenic H5N1 strain, the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry confirmed Thursday.

The ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Abi Musa Asa'ari Mohamed Nor, told a news conference here that the outbreak was an isolated case.

"Only two of the 103 'ayam kampung' bred by the villagers have been infected with the bird flu virus, of the H5N1 strain.

"However, we have taken the decision to cull all the chickens today itself," he said.

Abi Musa Asa'ari said that the outbreak was expected to be curbed within three weeks.

Asked whether a ban has been imposed on chicken export from the country, he said that it would be left to the importing countries to decide.

"The decision is up to the importing countries. We have told them that we are containing the case. Just hope the importing countries will not ban.

"If the countries are willing to accept (the chickens), we will go on," he said.

Malaysia exports about 130,000 chickens to Singapore every day from its various farms.

Abi Musa Asa'ari said that the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has been informed of the case and the AVA has decided to ban for a while the importation of Malaysian chickens.

He said that the AVA would be updated from time to time on the development of the isolated case.

Abi Musa Asa'ari also said that following the outbreak, the Veterinary Service Department had advised exporting farms to defer the dispatch of their consignments.

This was to prevent a glut in the event that the consignments were refused entry into the importing countries, he said.

He said the ministry was taking all the necessary precautions to contain the outbreak in the village.