Veterinary dept culls 1,479 more chickens, destroys 361 eggs

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kelantan Veterinary Services Department (DVS) culled 1,479 chickens and destroyed 361 eggs on Tuesday to control the spread of the H5N1 virus outbreak.

Kelantan DVS confirmed that no new locations had been detected positive for the virus.

“Yesterday (Tuesday), the state department obtained 130 samples from 19 premises for surveillance purposes. Currently, it is monitoring the situation through constant surveillance at the six locations detected positive for the virus,” it said in a statement.

As at press time, 35,999 birds had been culled with over 14,330 eggs destroyed since the virus was first detected. Since then, Kelantan DVS has obtained 3,392 samples from over 571 breeders.

“The team has been sent to capture and cull all fowls around a 1km radius of the infected areas.

“This does not mean that they are infected. This process needs to be done to create a buffer to prevent further spread of the disease,” it said.

The statement said a surveillance team had been directed to conduct clinical observation on all fowls, collect cloacal swabs and carcasses, if there were any.

The disease was now contained within a 30km radius from Kampung Pulau Tebu, which involves six places — Kota Baru, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Tumpat, Tanah Merah and Bachok.

The state DVS had assured that all broiler chicken and eggs were safe for consumption and asked the public to report any fowl death.

It also said the outbreak was under control and was only spreading within the places detected positive, which involved ayam kampung (free-range chicken) from small-scale breeders.