Poultry from Indonesia will be culled

NST: PUTRAJAYA: It’s certain death for any chicken, duck or any other fowl from Indonesia caught at Malaysian landing points, to stop the avian flu virus from spreading here.
Their owners will face a maximum fine of RM5,000 or two years’ jail or both, for importing animals without a permit under the Animal Act 1953.
Veterinary Services Department acting director-general Datuk Dr Mustapa Abd Jalil said the birds would be destroyed immediately upon seizure, as the Act empowered them to destroy any animal bearing the threat of disease.
"No need for laboratory testing. We don’t want to take the risk," Mustapa said at his office here yesterday.
The department, along with the police, Customs and Immigration, will be on high alert at all landing points on the west coast facing Sumatra, where six avian flu deaths in Medan have sparked fresh concerns, given its proximity to Malaysia.
Surveillance would also be stepped up at entry points along the Thai-Malaysia border, he said.
Seizures made by the police, Customs or Immigration would be reported to the VSD, which would conduct the culling of birds, he said.
The ban on imports of fowl from Indonesia imposed two years ago, when the H5N1 virus first surfaced there, is still in force, but Mustapa was concerned about passengers bringing their birds with them across the Straits of Malacca in ferries or passenger boats.
"They often bring in chickens and other birds in plastic bags. We hope for co-operation from the Indonesian authorities in monitoring their exit points."
Mustapa said information from Indonesian authorities indicated that the six deaths were from the same family of villagers who reared free-range chickens.
The first death on May 4 was of the mother, who was the index case, followed by her four children and a nephew. Two other family members are still in critical condition.
A large number of birds in the area have died, and some pigs there also tested positive for the virus.
Mustapa said the authorities there believed the family had been infected directly from birds.