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PUTRAJAYA: To cull or to vaccinate? The Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry is mulling the effectiveness of vaccinating local poultry against the bird flu virus but is wary about the implications. He ministry has looked at vaccination as a possibility following the detection of three new outbreak areas in Perak yesterday: Changkat Legong near Gopeng, Titi Gantung in Bota and Taman Lapangan Perdana in Ipoh. The new outbreaks follow earlier ones in Seberang Perai, Changkat Tualang in Gopeng, the Ecopark in Bukit Merah Laketwon Resort, Taiping, and in Gombak. |
Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said exports could be threatened as importers were generally not keen on consuming vaccinated poultry. Views on vaccination are split on whether it would be effective in stopping the spread of the H5N1 virus, or if the virus will become resistant. Muhyiddin said there was still no verdict as even international experts were divided on this. Industry players here also have differing views. He expects a decision to be reached soon. |
“Culling is good but we have to think of options if we reach the stage where it involves millions and millions of brids”. As the outbreaks appear to be mainly in village environments, the Veterinary Services Department will survey all kampong-reared chickens and ducks. On Singapore’s ban on poultry and poultry-based products from Perak, Muhyiddin said the republic would be asked to reconsider it with regard to products in processed form. Perak is losing RM5 million a month in duck exports to Singapore. |
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