August 5, 2004

 

 

Brunei On Alert As Bird Flu Outbreak Hits Asia Anew

 

After ravaging the Asian region earlier this year, the re-emergence of the avian influenza or bird flu in countries like Thailand, China, Vietnam and Indonesia has prompted Brunei's authorities to step up vigilance in the country.

 

The Brunei Agriculture Department has also taken actions over this latest outbreak. The department is continuously monitoring poultry animals and farms in the country.

 

Brunei has been free from bird flu so far.

 

To ensure that the situation remains the same, authorities are also stepping up monitoring at border points for any illegal poultry being brought into the country.

 

Experts have already met in Thailand to discuss further actions necessary to combat this second outbreak.

 

The last outbreak resulted in the culling of about 100 million birds. The virus also killed 24 people in Vietnam and Thailand.

 

The latest outbreak in Thailand has seen 160,000 fowls culled last month. The country is the world's fourth largest chicken exporter.

 

The World Health Organisation has urged countries that are infected to increase surveillance by their respective health officials.

 

Meanwhile, it is reported that Singapore has suspended poultry imports from a farm in Malaysia after a single duck tested for "suspected low grade" bird flu.

 

Further tests, however, have ruled out the deadly H5N 1 strain. "It is still a suspect case," said a Singapore spokesman.

 

Malaysian authorities have quarantined the duck farm involved in exporting ducks to Singapore. Tests have found no trace of the virus at the farm so far.