No H7N9 virus detected to date

Findings from a surveillance programme in all species of birds and poultry where 41,882 samples were taken, have not detected positive results with regard to the H7N9 virus subtype.

Veterinary Services director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin said the department would expand the surveillance programme to include more locations until the end of the year.

"Active surveillance was conducted at premises where live poultry and exotic species of birds resided, such as commercial and back-yard chicken and duck farms, bird sanctuaries, wild bird roosting places, wet markets, pets shop and entry points along Malaysia-Thailand and Malaysia-Indonesia borders," he said in a statement Saturday.

Dr Abdul Aziz also said the department had officially informed the Federation of Livestock Farm Associations of Malaysia of the government's action to temporarily stop importation of poultry products from China.

The department has stopped allowing containers carrying poultry products from China, as of April 23.

"Only containers considered or proven on-water, which have left approved ports of exit in China before this date while enroute to Malaysia, will be allowed to land at Malaysian ports by the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services," said Dr Abdul Aziz.

He said, of the 98 import permits issued as of that stoppage date, a total of 41 containers from five major chicken processing companies had been thoroughly examined and found to be negative of the H7N9 virus subtype.

Permits to bring in more containers would be temporarily frozen until the H7N9 situation subsided, he added.

The department has also temporarily suspended importation of live birds, including poultry from all regions of Asia, South Africa and Mexico, as of April 15, this year.

The statement said China had to date, reported occurrences of H7N9 cases in eight provinces, with 31 human fatalities.