Vaccination For Poultry Rejected
Bernama, 5 Apr 2006

PUTRAJAYA, April 5 (Bernama) -- The government has decided against vaccinating chickens and ducks to prevent infection by the H5N1 bird flu virus.

Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who announced this Wednesday, said the government would continue with the present measure of destroying all birds in an affected area as this was believed to be the best method to control an outbreak of the disease.

"The industry and government agree the best option is still culling and we have seen this is the most effective way," he told reporters after his ministry's post-Cabinet meeting, Wednesday.

Muhyiddin said scientists whom the government consulted and other local scientists also agreed with the opinion.

The suggestion to vaccinate all ducks and chickens reared either on commercial farms or by individuals was made during the recent outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in several states.

Muhyiddin said the poultry industry suffered about RM50 million in lost earnings due to cutbacks in imports by several countries because of the bird flu outbreak.

However, he said, the setback was expected to be temporary and demand was already picking up again.

He said the serious measures taken by the government and the industry to control the H5N1 outbreak gave confidence to consumers to buy poultry from this country.

Muhyiddin also said his ministry has set up a committee to monitor the implementation of its projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan to ensure they proceeded on schedule.

-- BERNAMA