Kelantan Veterinary Services Department destroyed 1,800 poultry and 1,075 eggs yesterday in a bid to stem the outbreak of avian flu (H5N1) in the state.

The department in a statement today said it also took 115 samples from 23 premises in a monitoring operation conducted yesterday.

It did not disclose the locations involved in the operation but said no new affected location were reported as of yesterday.

"Overall until March 19, a total of 28 locations tested positive for H5N1 virus in six areas - Kota Bharu (14 locations), Pasir Mas (six), Tumpat (three), Tanah Merah (one), Bachok (one) and Pasir Puteh (three) involving 43 premises.

"The total poultry disposed of so far is 33,153 and 13,342 eggs, while for monitoring activities, a total of 3,127 samples had been taken from 525 owners," the department said.

Meanwhile, state Agriculture, Agro-based Industry, Biotechnology and Green Technology Committee chairman Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi urged farmers and residents to report immediately, any incidence of poultry death in their area.

He said it was to facilitate the control operations and allow speedier recovery from the epidemic.

"We hope the state government would be able to quickly declare the state as disease free to enable farmers to resume their activities," he told reporters.

He said this after attending the opening by Regent of Kelantan Tengku Dr Muhammad Faiz Petra, of the fifth meeting of the 13th session of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly at Complex Kota Darul Naim here today.

The Kelantan state government on March 15 declared the outbreak as a 'state disaster'. - BERNAMA