October 3, 2023

No more signs of Nipah disease in Malaysia's livestock

Livestock in Malaysia are free from the Nipah disease, said the country's Veterinary Services Department (DVS) on September 26.

In a statement, the department said this was based on the surveillance of 399 commercial pig samples until August, which yielded negative test results.

The Nipah disease is caused by infection of the Nipah virus, which can spread through direct contact with infected animals, air contaminated by respiratory droplets, secretions from the nose and mouth, or tissues from infected animals.

According to the DVS, the Nipah disease was first detected in Malaysia in 1998, involving pig farms in Perak, which then spread to Negri Sembilan. It caused significant losses to pig farmers and the national economy, which also claimed the lives of 105 people.

The DVS added that massive eradication efforts involving various departments and agencies were carried out at that time, and by early 2001, Malaysia was declared free from Nipah disease by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

DVS said Malaysia continues to maintain its Nipah-free status through regular surveillance programmes.

According to the department, Nipah disease is listed as a Notifiable Disease under Section 31(1) of the Animals Act 1953. It said that surveillance will continue to be carried out to ensure that the pig farming industry in Malaysia remains free from any disease threats and always takes precautionary measures to prevent zoonotic diseases, which can be transmitted to humans, from entering the country.
 

– Bernama