Suspected bird flu case in Malaysia tests negative

Asian Economic News, Feb 17, 2004

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 9 Kyodo

Tests on a Malaysian hospitalized for suspected avian influenza turned out negative for the virus that has killed 19 people across Asia, a veterinary official said Monday.

A 40-year-old man, who owns a bird shop in northeastern Kelantan State, was quarantined and his shop was sealed after he came down with flu symptoms.

''We took samples from birds in the shop...there was no indication of H5N1 strain of avian influenza after we did the laboratory tests,'' said Hawari Husein, director general of veterinary services.

The seal on the shop has since been lifted and the birds will not be culled, he added.

Millions of birds have been killed since the deadly H5N1 virus was first detected, the United States being the latest country to report an outbreak.

Malaysia immediately banned the import of poultry from the U.S. and has already stopped poultry imports from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Taiwan and Pakistan.

Malaysia had been importing about 31% of the chicks used for breeding from the U.S.

Malaysia has been on high alert for bird flu ever since the disease was detected in neighboring Thailand and Indonesia last month.

The veterinary department has been conducting checks on thousands of poultry farms and bird sanctuaries across the country, with the help of the wildlife department.

But ''as of Feb. 9, there has been no case of bird flu (in Malaysia),'' Hawari said.

Consumers, however, are taking no chances and demand for chicken has dropped.

The Federation of Livestock Farmers Association broiler unit chief Yap Kim Hwah said demand has dropped by 300,000 chickens a day, threatening the income of 4,000 local breeders.

Malaysia produces about 1.3 million chickens daily.