September 17, 2004

Brunei Monitors Bird Flu Situation In Malaysia
 

Brunei Agriculture Department is continuously monitoring the bird flu situation in Malaysia by keeping an eye on the border for any smuggling of fowl into the country.

Officials from the department said that other precautionary measures are also in place, which include the monitoring of chicken farms around the country and taking of samples.

Currently, Brunei is free from the bird flu virus.

In the production of broiler chicken, Brunei has achieved 100 per cent self-sufficiency. But a small quantity of chicken meat is still being imported to meet the increasing demand of the food processing industry.

Malaysia announced Wednesday that it has placed an entire state under quarantine because of an outbreak of bird flu.

Bird flu surfaced last month in Kelantan. The whole state had been declared a disease-controlled area, Dr. Hawari Hussein, Director-General of Veterinary Services said.

This means that the movement of poultry out of the state is restricted.