Swine influenza detected in Malaysian livestock

Several commercial livestock in Malaysia, mainly pigs and wild boars, were found positive with swine influenza H1N1 (SIV H1N1).

What does it mean?

The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has detected the Swine Influenza H1N1 (SIV H1N1) virus in commercial livestock in Malaysia.

The pigs and wild boars were tested positive for the virus commonly known as swine flu.

However, they showed no symptoms of disease and are not at risk of spreading the infection to humans.

Why should we care?

With a new strain flu detected in China recently, there are concerns whether the discovery can eventually lead to another swine flu pandemic in 2009 that killed over 280,000 people.

Bernama recently reported that measures such as restricting the imports of pigs and pig products from infected and at-risk countries as well as regular monitoring and inspections at the country's main gateways have been taken by Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (MAF), through the DVS and the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS).

State-wide awareness campaigns on swine flu have also been launched while livestock breeders are also encouraged to increase their farm bio-security by not visiting infected pig farms.

The swine industry in Malaysia currently has a livestock population of 1,748,547, worth RM5 billion, being bred on 614 commercial farms, involving about 5,000 workers.