Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY

Relax, Go Eat Your Chicken - Say Vets

Source: Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- Flashback Aug 17, 2004: The country's first outbreak of avian influenza occurred in Pasir Pekan, a village in Wakaf Baru, Kelantan.

According to news reports, the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry said tests showed that this outbreak was caused by the H5N1 virus, a strain deadly to humans.

Veterinary authorities responded immediately and carried out culling of chickens, ducks and birds around the site of the outbreak.

Officials said the disease was brought into Malaysia by fighting cocks that had been exposed to the virus in Thailand. The whole of Kelantan came under round-the-clock monitoring while veterinary officers checked on wet markets, bird sanctuaries and pet shops.

Back to 2006: The nation was jolted again last Feb 20, as the virus resurfaced at Kampung Pasir Wardieburn, Setapak outside Kuala Lumpur.

The next month more cases were reported, among which in central Perak's Bukit Merah, Changkat Tualang and Titi Gantung as well as Penang's Permatang Bogak in Seberang Prai Utara.

SAFE TO CONSUME

Veterinary Service Department's Dr Kamaruddin Md Isa said no humans were affected in the outbreaks.

Several people were admitted to hospitals as a precaution but they were discharged after being cleared by health authorities.

Meanwhile 40 free-range chickens succumbed to the virus at Kampung Pasir Wardieburn and nine in Kampung Changkat Tualang while six were recorded in Permatang Bogak.

However no poultry or birds perished at Bukit Merah and Titi Gantung, Dr Kamaruddin, who is the Epidemiology and Veterinary Medicine Division's Disease Control Unit Head told Bernama this in a recent interview.

"No cases were reported at commercial poultry farms," he said.

"As for poultry suppliers and sellers at the market, there are no reports of them contracting this infectious disease...in other words these people are free from the avian flu virus.

"In conclusion, chicken and ducks from the local poultry farms are free from the virus and safe to consume," he said.

Dr Kamaruddin advised the public not to be overly worried about the recent outbreaks as the veterinary authorities are controlling the situation well.

CONTAGION EFFECT?

On the virus' spread to humans especially workers at chicken slaughterhouses, Dr Kamaruddin said:

"The hosts -- chickens, ducks or birds cannot transfer the virus to humans unless the handlers have cuts on their hands or other parts of their body and these wounds are exposed and in contact with the poultry while working".

Dr Kamaruddin said another mode of transfer could be that the chicken handlers, whose hands have been contaminated with the virus, may accidentally touch their eyes and nostrils.

"Or they may inhale air that is already contaminated with the H5N1 virus," he said.

Dr Kamaruddin said if these situations are avoided, then the handlers would be free of the viral contamination.

LIFESPAN

Dr Kamaruddin said the virus has a rather short life span outside its host and the longest they could survive is about four days or 96 hours.

He said virus in droppings of chickens, ducks and birds that died in shady areas can survive up to four days while that in water-logged areas like lakes and mine pools under direct sunlight can live up to three days.

"As for virus in the carcass of the host that is exposed to sunlight, its lifespan is about 30 minutes.

"The virus is sensitive to antiseptics like the lysol spray and even soaps and handwashes," said the veterinary surgeon.

PUBLIC PERCEPTION

Dr Kamaruddin said the public has a wrong perception that the chicken sold at wet markets is infected with the virus.

"If there are outbreaks at poultry farms or other areas, the impact is sudden and there is no time for the chicken to be slaughtered and sent to the markets.

"In the first 24 hours of an outbreak at a poultry farm, about 20 per cent of the stock would perish. This jumps to 80 per cent or all of the livestock within the subsequent 24 hours.

On culling of poultry at outbreak spots, Dr Kamaruddin said this is a standard procedure.

"When we receive a report of birds or poultry dying suspiciously, even about three per cent of the stock, we have to take immediate action including sending the Emergency Response team," he said.

He said the team would take specimens from carcasses and send them for tests at the Veterinary Research Institute (Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur) or Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang.

"The report would be ready within the same day and if the test is positive for avian flu virus, all the relevant agencies and departments would swing into action.

"This include cordoning off the affected area and culling all poultry and birds, including the healthy ones, within a kilometre radius of the spot," he said.

ACTIVE SURVEILLANCE

"We also conduct active surveillance covering 10km radius of the affected area, this is to contain any possible spread of the virus," he said.

Dr Kamaruddin said if the virus is found in swabs taken from poultry within this area, the culling operation would be promptly initiated.

"However if there are no new cases, no culling would be done," he said, adding that all action taken is to destroy the virus' hosts, hence containing its spread.

He said active surveillance would last for 21 days.

Meanwhile department Acting Director-General Datuk Dr Mustapa Abdul Jalil said the spread of the bird flu virus at all of the outbreak areas is well contained.

He said veterinary authorities exterminated 24,081 chickens, 32,012 ducks and 1,992 birds apart from destroying 8,437 eggs in the wake of this year's avian flu episodes.

"The department also make routine checks in other states and so far 3,259 premises have been screened and 9,477 test samples taken. All results are negative.

BIRD FLU FREE

Dr Mustapa said: "We have classified that Kampung Pasir Wardieburn in Setapak is free from the H5N1 virus after a second active surveillance was held.

"After 100 days, if there are no new cases, the world veterinary health body would declare it free of avian flu virus.

On the call by Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for rearing of free-range chicken breeding to be stopped, Mustapa said the issue is still being discussed.

"It is not a call for a ban, but the restructuring of how the free-range chicken is reared", said Mustapa, adding that it is time for villagers to start breeding such chicken in coops even though the number is small.

Mustapa said a more systematic method of rearing village fowls would reduce the risk of spread of bird flu or other poultry-related diseases.

"When chickens, ducks or birds are allowed to roam freely, they are exposed to viral infections and when this happens, there could be an outbreak and the stock would have to be culled.

"A systematic and more hygienic method would curb or limit the spread of poultry diseases and prevent livestock farmers from suffering massive losses in the future," Mustapa added.