AlaskaDenise
In Memoriam
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/nst/Thursday/NewsBreak/20070118173436/Article/index_html
18 Jan 2007
Sharifah Mahsinah Syed Abdullah
KOTA BARU, THU.:
<HR align=center SIZE=1>The smuggling of birds, especially fighting cocks, through the border still occurs despite a ban on its movement following the outbreak of bird flu in Thailand.
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State Veterinary Services director, Dr Idris Kadir, said most of the cocks were brought in by fans through illegal jetties along the Malaysia-Thailand border.
"Increased checks on the entry of birds and chicken products have been carried out continuously since the avian influenza was detected in Tumpat in 2004," he said.
"Security is tight at the three customs and immigration checkpoints in the State; that is why smugglers have turned to using the illegal jetties."
Dr Idris said more checks on the chicken products and birds from Thailand are necessary to prevent bird flu from spreading to this country.
However, that can only be carried out with the help of enforcement agencies such as the police and the Anti-Smuggling Unit, he said.
On a report that Malaysia was on the alert for avian flu following several outbreaks in the region, he said the department's staff have been told to be more focused in their checks.
"We do not want the outbreak in Tumpat to repeat. Extra precautionary measures must be taken," he said.
Last Monday, Thailand detected its first outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus in six months after tests confirmed that the deaths of more than 100 ducks in Phitsanulok province were caused by the virus.
.
18 Jan 2007
Sharifah Mahsinah Syed Abdullah
KOTA BARU, THU.:
<HR align=center SIZE=1>The smuggling of birds, especially fighting cocks, through the border still occurs despite a ban on its movement following the outbreak of bird flu in Thailand.
<!--start news picture--><!--end news picture-->
State Veterinary Services director, Dr Idris Kadir, said most of the cocks were brought in by fans through illegal jetties along the Malaysia-Thailand border.
"Increased checks on the entry of birds and chicken products have been carried out continuously since the avian influenza was detected in Tumpat in 2004," he said.
"Security is tight at the three customs and immigration checkpoints in the State; that is why smugglers have turned to using the illegal jetties."
Dr Idris said more checks on the chicken products and birds from Thailand are necessary to prevent bird flu from spreading to this country.
However, that can only be carried out with the help of enforcement agencies such as the police and the Anti-Smuggling Unit, he said.
On a report that Malaysia was on the alert for avian flu following several outbreaks in the region, he said the department's staff have been told to be more focused in their checks.
"We do not want the outbreak in Tumpat to repeat. Extra precautionary measures must be taken," he said.
Last Monday, Thailand detected its first outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus in six months after tests confirmed that the deaths of more than 100 ducks in Phitsanulok province were caused by the virus.
.