A new case of H5 type Avian Influenza had been detected at Teluk Baru
Village, near Kota Baharu, capital of the northern state of Kelantan, a senior
veterinary official said Sunday.
Veterinary Services Director-General Hawari Hussein told reporters that the
new case involved the detection of the Avian Flu virus in three chickens in
Jalan Bayam Guchil, just six kilometers from Pasir Pekan Village, where the
first case was detected in Kelantan.
The culling of chickens, ducks and birds within a one-kilometerradius had
started immediately, he said.
Hawari said surveillance and tests conducted in other parts of the country
would continue and no signs of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
virus had been detected.
"It means other areas are not affected and free from the HPAI virus. As such,
chickens, ducks and eggs are safe for consumption," he said.
He said that since the virus was detected in the state, a totalof 5,119
chickens, ducks and birds had been culled in Kelantan.
The department also urged people in the affected areas to hand over their
fowls to expedite the culling process, he said.
Hawari also urged the public, especially those living along
theThailand-Malaysia border, to refrain from bringing in any type of poultry
products.
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus was first detected in Kelantan on
Aug. 17, believed to have been spread by a fightingcock brought in from
Thailand.
It has since spread to nine villages in four districts of the state --
Tumpat, Kota Baharu, Pasir Mas and Bachok.
Meanwhile, the enforcement authorities Sunday launched an integrated
operation to curb the smuggling of poultry, poultry-based products and birds
from Thailand to contain the spread of the bird flu virus in Kelantan.