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PUTRAJAYA, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- The H5N1 virus strain which
recently killed 40 chickens in Jalan Genting Klang, Kuala
Lumpur, is similar to the one found in bird-flu cases in
Indonesia, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin said Monday.
He said this was confirmed by tests conducted on the dead
chickens by laboratories in Petaling Jaya and Ipoh recently.
"The sub-type virus is a strain that is similar to the one from
Indonesia (which also faces the bird flu)," he told reporters
here.
But Muhyiddin quickly pointed out that he was not saying that
the bird-flu situation in the country was due to the movements
of chickens or birds from Indonesia.
"I am not accusing the Indonesians of smuggling in, for example,
fighting cocks or chicken meat which has been infected by the
disease. That we cannot yet establish...I am not making |
any insinuation. I am just saying this as a matter of fact," he
said.
It was reported that the authorities were on the look out for
fighting cocks, some believed to be owned by Indonesian workers,
in efforts to contain the avian influenza which had hit four
villages off Jalan Genting Klang -- Kampung Pasir Wardieburn,
Taman Danau Kota, Pekan Danau Kota and Kampung Belakang JPJ.
Muhyiddin said that locals too had been found to be in
possession of fighting cocks.
"Whatever it is, we need to tighten up a bit more enforcement at
the border areas to ensure that there is no smuggling of birds
of any kind into our country," he said.
Until Sunday, the Veterinary Services Department had culled
3,125 chickens, 134 ducks and 159 other birds within a one
kilometre radius of the bird flu-stricken area, representing
about 96 per cent of the chickens and birds there. Over 1,400
eggs were also destroyed. |
The authorities also conducted checks in locations up to a 10km
radius beyond the one kilometre boundary, involving 777 premises
or chicken owners and 44,365 chickens and birds. They took 2,674
swab samples which so far showed negative for bird flu.
In addition, Muhyiddin said, chicken sellers at four or five
markets in the bird flu-hit area had been directed to stop
killing chickens at their premises. "We'll be very strict on
this. We are working in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur City
Hall to ensure that this doesn't happen. But dressed chickens
brought from locations free from the virus can still be sold at
the markets," he said.
-- BERNAMA |
