Chicken 'guards' to stop bird flu entering Sabah

NST: KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has "hired" chickens to stop bird flu from entering the state.
The chickens form the "sentinel flock" which will be the first line of defence against bird flu brought in by migratory birds.
Migratory birds, which fly more than 25,000km to escape the winter, will be allowed to mingle with the "sentinel flock" in a specially erected shed.
The shed has openings to allow the birds to enter and share food with the poultry.
Experts will monitor the chickens to see if they get infected with the virus, and thus take quick measures to stop the avian flu from spreading to other areas.
State Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail, who opened the shed at the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands Centre yesterday, said there had been no reports of the virus in Sabah.
"There were 52 deaths in Indonesia, and many of these happened in Kalimantan. We border Kalimantan, so we have to take steps to keep the virus away.
"If any of the chickens get infected, we will immediately destroy all poultry within a five-kilometre radius."
Rahim said the "sentinel flock" method was used in France and Thailand.
The "sentinel flock" initiative is a collaborative effort of the Veterinary Services and Animal Industry Department, Health Department and the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society.