Malaysian state Kelantan voices concern over Thai frozen chicken

The Kelantan Veterinary Services Department has expressed concern that smuggled frozen chicken from Thailand could be infected with the bird flu virus.

Department director, Dr Mohd Zairi Serlan said this amid the prevalence of smuggling in of frozen chicken from Thailand. He said chicken from Thailand could be reprocessed again and consumed without the knowledge of consumers.

Dr Mohd Zain said this following the raid of 578 boxes of frozen chicken, worth MYR40,228 believed to be smuggled from Thailand at the Tanjung illegal jetty, Pengkalan Kubur last Nov 10.

Last Nov 14, the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industries banned the import of whole chicken and chicken parts from Thailand with immediate effect after reports that the bird flu disease is making a comeback in Southeast Asia.

The agriculture ministry, Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said, the move is a precaution even though Malaysia imported 769 tonnes of chicken from Thailand since September this year.

However there is no need for Malaysians to be alarmed as the Veterinary Services Department has not received any reports of the bird flu disease in the country.

Prior to this, the World Veterinary Health authorities have reported the outbreak of the bird flu disease in Sokhotai, Thailand.