Following the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Malaysia, Indonesia has banned imports of fresh poultry and other poultry products from Malaysia after 9 August 2018, stated Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture
Referring the concern of Indonesian government about Malaysian poultry, Malaysia said that the entire issue is being handled professionally and that there is no reason to panic.
Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam, director-general of the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Malaysia, may visit Indonesia to explain the bird flu situation in the country.
As reported in The Edge Markets, Sim Tze Tzin, deputy minister of agriculture and agro-based industry in Malaysia, said that the bird flu has been detected in only one place in the country and poultry from the rest of Malaysia is safe to be consumed.
Sim further added that after the Tuaran outbreak, DVS has culled 31,140 birds, destroyed 3,985 eggs and about 358 samples were taken. DVS is also constantly monitoring 104 premises and more than 30 villages, said the source.
“Any farm, when they find any unusual death of birds, will report to DVS and DVS officers will take samples from the reported area,” Sim told to the source.
In regards to Indonesian ban, Malaysia expects the least effect on its export portfolio, as some Malaysia poultry and veterinary products have been banned in Indonesia since last year’s H5N1 avian flu outbreak in Kelantan.
