August 25, 2004

More Than 300,000 Broilers Checked, Cleared Of Bird Flu In Malaysia

Malaysia's Kelantan Veterinary Health Department (JPH) has checked 385,000 broilers at four poultry farms in the state, and found the chickens to be free of avian flu.

JPH director Dr Idris Kadir said the first phase of checks would end Aug 26, while the second phase was scheduled to end on Sept 2. The avian flu virus was found in Kampung Baru Pasir Pekan, Tumpat last week.

He said the department Wednesday sent 1,391 poultry blood samples taken from the village to its laboratories in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Tests conducted there will determine whether the livestock carried the virus.

No new cases were reported in the village or other areas in Kelantan, Dr Idris stated.

He said JPH had deployed more of its staff at road checks in Bukit Bunga, Rantau Panjang and Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat to prevent chicken from being smuggled into the country.