BIRD flu has broken out in Sabah’s west coast district of Tuaran, some 40km from Kota Kinabalu.

Sabah Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Junz Wong confirmed this today. He said he had ordered for the virus to be immediately contained

“Based on the Department of Veterinary Services’ report, until July 31, samples from one farm tested positive for bird flu or avian flu,” the minister said in a statement.

On July 12, local authorities denied the claim in a widely-circulated message that the was an avian fluoutbreak following the high number of poultry deaths in several farms. 

The VSD’s tests on 939 poultry samples  showed up negative for the flu.  

“To curb the spread of the virus to the other districts, I have approved the culling of poultry within a kilometre radius of where the disease has been detected. 

“The radius will further be expanded to five kilometres if more cases are detected beyond the initial area,” he said. 

Wong said transporting of poultry out of the district was also restricted.

He said the ministry would launch awareness campaigns to curb the spread of the virus among humans.  

He assured that chickens and eggs sold in the market for consumption remained safe due to stringent quality checks. 

Poultry farms across the state were urged to inform the department if more than 3% of the fowl were suddenly found dead.  

Avian influenza affects birds, but people are susceptible to some strains of the virus, which has caused death in humans in China. – August 3, 2018.