Malaysia maintains free status from Nipah disease in pig farming

PUTRAJAYA - Malaysia maintains its position free from Nipah disease in pig farming through regular surveillance programmes.

In a statement, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) said that based on the latest annual surveillance results conducted until August on 399 samples of commercial pigs, the test results were negative for the disease.

The Nipah virus infection causes Nipah disease through direct contact with infected animals, airborne transmission with respiratory droplets, secretion from the nose and mouth, or tissues from infected animals.

It is listed as a Notifiable Disease under the Animal Act 1953, Section 31(1) by the DVS.

The statement said that Nipah disease was first detected in the country in 1998, involving pig farms in Perak and spreading to Negeri Sembilan.

"It caused significant losses to pig farmers and the country's economy and claimed 105 human lives," the statement read.

The statement added that extensive eradication efforts involving various departments and agencies were carried out at that time, and in early 2001, the country was declared free from Nipah disease by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

"The Nipah-free status has been maintained in the country until now," the statement further added.

To ensure that the pig farming industry remains free from any threat of disease, the DVS will continue to conduct surveillance and take precautionary measures to prevent this zoonotic disease (transmissible to humans) from entering the country.

Pig farmers are advised not to plant fruit trees in and around farm areas that could attract animals, especially fruit bats (a family of bat species), which are known to be natural hosts of the Nipah virus.

The public is also advised to report any incidents of contagious diseases in livestock such as pigs, horses, or pets to the DVS for further action, the statement added.

Last Saturday, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa announced that there have been no new cases of Nipah disease among humans in the country since the last reported case on May 27, 1999.