H5N1: Malaysia's Kelantan Expects To Be Declared Free Of H5N1 By Mid-May

KOTA BHARU (Kelantan, Malaysia), April 6 (Bernama) -- Come mid-May, Kelantan (Malaysia's northeast) is expected to be declared free of bird flu (H5N1), says state agriculture, agro-based industry, biotechnology and green technology committee chairman Che Abdullah Mat Nawi. He said inspections by the Veterinary Services Department at 36 locations in six districts affected by the outbreak last Friday, found no new cases recorded. According to the department, he said no new cases had been reported and hoped it remained so to enable Kelantan to be declared free of the epidemic. Che Abdullah was speaking to reporters when met at his office in Kota Darul Naim Complex here Wednesday. He said the 36 locations which were previously confirmed positive for H5N1 in the six districts were Kota Bharu (15 locations), Pasir Mas (six), Tumpat (five), Bachok (six), Pasir Puteh (three) and Tanah Merah (one). He said the department, in collaboration with other government agencies had taken various measures to control the outbreak from spreading, including putting up road blocks to prevent the movement of poultry to areas unaffected by the outbreak. On the payment of compensation to farmers who suffered losses due to the culling of poultry such as chickens, ducks and quails, Che Abdullah said the state government was gathering information on the number of farmers involved and total loss incurred. He said to date, the department had culled 56,950 birds and 17,531 eggs following the outbreak. On March 15, the Kelantan Government declared the bird flu outbreak in the state a disaster situation after some chickens died from the disease in Kampung Pulau Tebu, Tunjong here on March 6. -- BERNAMA