Highest Level Warning On Possibility Of Recurrence Of Bird Flu

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- The Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry Wednesday issued the highest level of warning on the possibility of a recurrence of bird flu in the country following the outbreak of the disease in several countries in the region.
Its minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Malaysia was still free from the disease and the monitoring carried out had yet to find symptoms of the disease in the country.
Malaysia was declared free from bird flu or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on June 22 2006 after an outbreak in February and March 2006.
"Several preventive measures have been taken including banning the import of chicken, ducks and birds from countries actively and mildly affected by bird flu," he said in a statement Wednesday.
Muhyiddin said tight security had been imposed at the border checkpoints where chicken, ducks and birds as well as their products brought in illegally would be seized and destroyed.
The Veterinary Services Department headquarters in Putrajaya and the states have been activated since Monday on the possibility of the recurrence of bird flu while Fast Action Squad at veterinary laboratories are in a state of readiness.
Muhyiddin asked farmers and breeders to report as soon as possible on suspected HPAI or abnormal cases of chicken deaths to enable quick action to be taken.
Early inspection and sampling at poultry farms, pet shops, wet markets and slaughter and processing houses will be carried out.
Muhyiddin advised the people visiting countries affected by bird flu not to bring home chicken or ducks.