M'sia Bird Flu-Free - Veterinary Services DG

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been free of the 'Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza' or bird flu since Sept 2 2007, said Veterinary Services Department director-general Dr Abd Aziz Jamaluddin. In a statement here Friday, he said there had been no bird flu influenza virus detected by the department based on 15,401 samples tested. "All samples turned out negative and there has been no virus infection in poultry in Malaysia. All chicken and duck as well as eggs in the market are safe for consumption. "Active surveillance is being carried out by the department at commercial chicken farms, slaughter houses, wet markets, bird shops as well as on wild birds," he said. Dr Abd Aziz said to face any eventuality of the recurrence of bird flu in Southeast Asia, the department was always carrying out surveillance and upgrading its competency programme to deal with the disease. -- BERNAMA