The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has swung into action to contain the infectious bronchitis (IB) outbreak which has left thousands of poultry chicken dead, said Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry deputy secretary-general (Policy) Mohd Sallehhuddin Hassan.

He said based on initial reports, it was found that some poultry farmers did not use IB vaccine while some claimed the existing vaccine stocks were no longer effective.

"DVS staff have already gone down to the farms concerned to find out what is really happening...we are worried if there is manipulation by suppliers to hike prices.

"We do not deny that there is an outbreak (of IB), it is not uncommon,just that the price of chicken has sky-rocketed this Aidilfitri festive season," he said.

He told this to reporters after attending the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority's Aidilfitri open house in Puchong near here today.

Mohd Sallehhuddin said at the same time, his ministry did not dismiss the possibility of the need for new vaccine stocks if it was true that the existing stocks were not effective.

Yesterday, the Selangor Poultry Farmers Association in its newsletter claimed that IB, which causes breathing difficulties because of the accumulation of phlegm in the throats of chicken, had left thousands of birds dead resulting in a 20 per cent drop in chicken production in the country.

Since Thursday, the price of chicken has shot up by RM2 to RM3 a kilo above the ceiling price of RM7.90 a kilo.

Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister said the ministry would ensure there would be no short supply of chicken as a result of the outbreak.

"We will ensure that this problem is only temporary, once the outbreak is over the situation will be back to normal," he said.