Singapore increases inspections to keep out bird flu

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore increased inspections at poultry slaughter-houses to keep bird flu out of the country, local media reported on Tuesday (Jan 27).

Local media said the AVA has been stepping up efforts by doubling inspection rounds to twice a week at poultry slaughter- houses and taking samples to tests for the H5N1 virus.

The AVA said that despite the country having comprehensive plans for a flu pandemic, it cannot be complacent.

At the opening of Conference on Pandemic Preparedness in Asia on January 12 in Singapore, the country's Deputy Prime Minister Wang Kan Seng urged Asian countries to work together to develop an effective system of disease surveillance and reporting in every high-risk area.

In 2004 and 2006, slaughterhouses in Singapore were twice affected by bird flu scares in Malaysia.