KOTA KINABALU -- The Sabah
government has instructed the Veterinary Services Department to declare
Tuaran district as a bird flu outbreak area.
The
instruction was conveyed through the Tuaran District Officer, said
Sabah Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Junz Wong.
He
said a surveillance by the Sabah Veterinary Services Department on
several farms and based on samples tested last Tuesday found that a farm
in Tuaran recorded positive results for Avian Influenza.
Bernama reported, as a measure to contain the disease, the Veterinary Services
Department will cull all poultry within a one-kilometre radius of the
area where the disease was detected.
The area of culling will be extended up to five-kilometre radius if
surveillance finds positive samples in the one-kilometre radius area. We
will ensure that no poultry is taken out of the outbreak area, he said
in a statement.
Junz said the
awareness campaign would be ongoing to ensure that the people understand
what was going on and would extend the necessary cooperation.
We urge all poultry farmers in Sabah to immediately inform the Sabah
Veterinary Services Department of the deaths of chickens exceeding three
per cent of the flock in their areas.
The people are advised not to be overly concerned over the outbreak as
the affected area will be brought fully under control within one month.
Chicken and eggs sold in the market are safe for consumption as they
have been subjected to strict examination prior to marketing. It is
necessary to fully cook the meat as the virus can easily be destroyed by
heat, he said.
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