Thursday, March 23, 2006

Ministry considering vaccinating poultry

Star: PUTRAJAYA: Vaccinating poultry against the H5N1 avian flu virus is being looked into as an alternative to culling, Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
He said the ministry was toying with the idea but stressed the decision would only be made after listening to views from scientists, agriculture experts, breeders and the industry on the effectiveness of the procedure.
“We also need to look into the implications the procedure would have on the market, especially export opportunities,” he told reporters after chairing his ministry’s post-Cabinet meeting yesterday.
He said vaccinating poultry against the deadly flu virus had been carried out in France and been proven to be effective.
He, however, said there were negative views on the vaccination – that it was not effective in protecting the birds.
Muhyiddin also said there had been no report of fresh cases of the flu.
“But culling activities are still being carried out in the affected areas in Perak and Penang,” he added.

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