June 11, 2007

Indonesia to ban Malaysian poultry after bird flu
 

Indonesia would now ban poultry imports from Malaysia after the country reported a bird flu outbreak last week, Musny Suatmodjo, director of animal health at the agricultural ministry said.

The official said Indonesia imports ducks and duck eggs from Malaysia.

Malaysia reported the H5N1 virus in chickens in a village in the state of Selangor last week, the first time bird flu had been found in the country since March 21 last year.

Authorities have been culling chickens within a 1km radius of the outbreak as a protective measure.

Indonesia follows Singapore in banning poultry products from Malaysia, although Singapore restricted its ban to the state of Selangor only.

Bird flu is endemic in Indonesia.

The country has seen 79 human deaths from the virus, the highest in the world.