February 27, 2004

Malaysians Eating More Chicken As Bird Flu Fears Ease

Malaysians are eating more chicken as fears subside that bird flu is going to break out in the country, giving relief to local producers who watched prices slump in recent weeks.

Kamarudin Mohamad Isa, the head of Malaysia's Disease Control and Veterinary Biologics Unit, said the price of chicken in Malaysia was recovering since plummeting in recent weeks because of disease fears.

Prices were also rising because breeders reduced their supply of chicken products into the market during the scare, creating a shortage, Kamarudin said.

"There may be a slight contribution from that to the price increase, but it's up because demand is improving, indicating that consumer confidence is back," Kamarudin told The Associated Press.

The government says Malaysia remains free of the avian influenza that has swept through at least 10 Asian countries in recent months, killing 22 people and causing the slaughter of millions of fowl.

Chicken is a staple in many Asian countries, but consumption plummeted in recent months because of disease fears. Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and other leaders in the region have publicly eaten a variety of chicken dishes in an effort to allay public concerns.