September 16, 2004

 

 

Malaysia Imposes Statewide Quarantine On Poultry In Kelantan
 

A statewide quarantine has been imposed in Kelantan, Malaysia to check the spread of the avian flu virus. 

 

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the Cabinet has also directed security personnel to act sternly against those who break the quarantine. 

 

This move, he added, was based on the trend of the disease seen in areas outside the original quarantine area of Pasir Pekan in Tumpat.  

 

"We must take steps and stop it from spreading. The Kelantan Veterinary Services Department will monitor all districts in the state.

 

"This is a precautionary measure," he told reporters yesterday after a briefing on the Malaysian Agricultural, Horticultural and Agro Tourism Exhibition 2004. 

 

The quarantine was expected to last another 19 days if no new cases were detected.  

 

Muhyiddin also said that more than 200 additional Veterinary Services Department personnel had been deployed to the state. 

 

The Cabinet agreed at its meeting yesterday that the police and General Operations Forces could issue stern warnings against those who broke the quarantine. 

 

Under the quarantine, he said, no poultry was allowed to leave or enter villages, districts, other states or neighbouring countries. 

 

"If the chicken is in that village, it stays there. We cannot have any movement," Muhyiddin stated. 

 

Veterinary Services director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein said culling of chickens, ducks and pet birds had started at Kampung Laut, Tumpat, and Kampung Kuchelong, Bachok, where the latest avian flu cases were detected.  

 

Kelantan Veterinary Services director Dr Idris Kadir said 40 of his officers had been stationed at all exit points in the state to ensure that no infected poultry were smuggled out. 

 

"We are also trying to get approval from the head office to destroy infected poultry on the spot without having to get the test results," he told reporters at his office yesterday. 

 

The H5 avian flu virus was detected on Monday in Kampung Kuchelong in Bachok, which is outside the 10km quarantine radius of Pasir Pekan. 

 

Eight villages in four districts ¨C namely Tumpat, Pasir Pekan, Bachok and Kota Baru ¨C were declared avian flu epidemic areas on Tuesday. 

 

Dr Idris said the quarantine had to be imposed given the rapid spread of the virus, reaching up to 50km in less than 30 days. 

 

"The quarantine is expected to affect the RM120 million chicken business in Kelantan. But we have no choice because we have to protect the country's RM3.8 billion chicken industry," he said.