Chicken eggs and broilers in market safe for consumption - Vet Dept

Chicken eggs and broilers in the market are produced by operators and breeders in states that are completely free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus.

The Veterinary Services Department (JPV) said in this regard, chicken eggs and meat in the market are safe for consumption.

"So far, no cases of infection were detected among humans," said JPV in a statement here today.

On March 6, H5N1 cases were detected in Kampung Pulau Tebu, Tunjong, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, when several kampung chicken found dead had tested positive for the virus.

The Kelantan state government later declared the outbreak as a state disaster when the disease spread to two more districts, Bachok and Pasir Puteh.

Meanwhile, JPV said states which are free of H5N1 are now on high alert.

"The H5N1-free states are actively conducting surveillance as well as controlling the movements of fowls in their respective areas," said JPV.

As of yesterday, 35 locations were confirmed positive for H5N1 in Kelantan including a new location in Bachok.

"The 35 H5N1 positive areas are in six districts, namely Kota Bharu (15 locations), Pasir Mas (six), Tumpat (four), Tanah Merah (one), Bachok (six) and Pasir Putih (3), involving 49 premises," it said.

According to JPV, culling operations had been carried out at 24 locations and were still going on at other locations involving 54,285 birds while 16,104 eggs were destroyed.

-- BERNAMA