February 28, 2005

Malaysia remains on the alert for bird flu

Malaysia remains on the alert against bird flu, despite the fact that the country is free of the disease.

This move is necessary as the disease is still present in neighbouring countries like Thailand and Vietnam, according to Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein.

The department has taken certain measures such as banning imports of live poultry, or their products including chicken meat and frozen meat, from infected countries.

In addition to suspending the importation of chicken meat from Thailand and China, Malaysia has also extended this ruling to Vietnam even though they do not import poultry from them.

"We are doing all this to ensure that the avian flu virus is kept away from our country," said Dr Hawari.

He added that the department will continue to follow the guidelines of international organisations involved in the control of bird flu.