Alert raised over avian flu

Star: The authorities are on the alert for any sign of the avian flu spreading from neighbouring countries, following reported outbreaks in Indonesia.
The risk of the flu spreading here, however, was very low as Malaysia did not import any poultry from Indonesia, according to Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein.
He said the recent discovery of avian flu in Indonesia should not be a cause for concern for Malaysians.
“We will, however, continue with our monitoring and surveillance of farms around the country,” he said in an interview.
On measures to check on migratory birds, he said the department would step up inspections on poultry farms located close to bird sanctuaries and places where such migratory birds frequented.
“Random checks will be carried out to make sure none of the poultry farms are infected,” he added.
On imports of pet birds, he said that monitoring would be stepped up at the country’s entry points and at pet shops.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, when contacted, said the ministry was keeping a close watch on the situation.
“We are continuously on alert, especially when it occurs in neighbouring countries. “Our ministry officers are in communication with their Indonesian counterparts,” he said.
On dengue, Dr Abdul Latiff said there was no increase in the number of cases.
“We have not reached epidemic level yet. It is not equivalent to that in Singapore,” he added.
Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said on Sunday that the average number of dengue cases was more than 600 weekly compared with the normal average of about 400.
It has been reported that public hospitals in Singapore were delaying non-urgent operations to cope with an outbreak that has killed eight and infected more than 10,000 of the republic’s 4.2 million people this year.