December 6, 2004

Malaysia Aims to be Bird Flu-Free by Year End

Malaysia hopes to declare the country free of the bird flu virus by the end of the year, according to Agriculture Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

"There are no new cases. We hope there is no new outbreak within this month, and we will make an announcement," he said.

But Muhyiddin said Kuala Lumpur would not rush to declare the country free of the deadly virus. Veterinary officials had also been ordered to conduct more frequent tests and maintain stringent surveillance.

"While Malaysia can say it is free (of the virus), our neighbours are not free. The danger is still there," he said.

Malaysia's first case of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, which has killed 32 people in Thailand and Vietnam this year, was detected in a Kelantan village in August. The northeastern state borders Thailand.

Officials say the disease was first brought into Malaysia by fighting cocks that had been exposed to the virus in Thailand and new outbreaks were caused by the continued smuggling of chicken meat.

Muhyiddin said Malaysia would a host a meeting of international experts on bird flu in December, backed by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.