January 26, 2007

Malaysia bans poultry imports from bird flu-hit nations

Malaysia issued the highest level of warning on the possibility of a recurrence of bird flu in the country after bird flu broke out in several countries in the region.

Malaysia is still free from the disease and the monitoring carried out had yet to find signs of the disease in the country, the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said.

Malaysia was declared free from bird flu or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) on 22 June 2006 after an outbreak in February and March 2006.

Preventive measures such as banning the import of chicken, ducks and birds from countries actively and mildly affected by bird flu have been taken, he 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, he added.

Bird flu was found in a duck farm in the country's northern state of Perak last year.