KUANTAN: Blood samples collected from fowls in 93 premises throughout Pahang revealed the poultry products are free from the H5N1 virus outbreak.
State Agriculture and Agro-based Industry committee chairman Datuk Shafik Fauzan Sharif said the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) had tested 859 samples of fowls, which included ayam hutan (red jungle fowl), ayam kampung (free-range chicken) and ducks, between March 16 and yesterday.
“When the outbreak hit Kelantan, DVS here has taken all the necessary steps including conducting test on the fowls at farms and pet shops. To date, no fowls were tested positive for H5N1 virus infection.
“Although Pahang has declared itself free, DVS will continue surveillance and inspections at points of entry to prevent the incursion of the disease. The main entry points are in Merapoh, Lipis dan Gua Musang, Kelantan,” he told reporters after the opening of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 briefing sessions here today.
Shafik said policemen in Kuala Lipis will continue to monitor vehicles transporting the fowls from Kelantan into Pahang especially after the latest outbreak was reported in Tumpat, Kelantan.
He confirmed none of the chicken farms in the state are affected and the poultry in the state is safe for consumption.
On March 8, the Kelantan Veterinary Services Department confirmed that 15 free-range chickens in Kampung Pulau Tebu, Tunjong in Kota Baru, died of avian flu H5N1 and since then Pahang have been on the alert.