ID :
73554
Mon, 08/03/2009 - 17:45
Auther :

EAST MALAYSIA STATE HAS NO PLANS TO CLOSE DOWN PIG FARMS




KOTA KINABALUM (Malaysia), Aug 3 (Bernama) -- The East Malaysia Sabah state
government does not intend to close down pig farms in the state following the
outbreak of the influenza A (H1N1) outbreak which is becoming more serious.

Deputy Chief Minister Yahya Hussin, who is also the State Minister of
Agriculture and Food Industry, said the viral infection was being spread from
one human being to another and not from pigs.

Replying to a question from Datuk Abdul Rahim Ismail at
the State Assembly sitting Monday, he said the pig farms would only be closed if
they did not meet the conditions and standards stipulated.

Yahya said that since the outbreak of the virus in April, his ministry, via
the Veterinary Services and Animal Husbandry Department, had taken measures to
ensure that pig farms in the state did not carry the virus.

Among the measures taken were taking blood samples and 'nasal swabs' from
the pigs for analyses, he said.

"A total of 1,411 samples of 'nasal swabs' and 1,371 blood samples had been
taken from 63 pig farms in the state and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

"At the same time, clinical observations are also being carried out in all
districts where no positive cases were found among the pigs and workers at the
farms," he added.

-- BERNAMA

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