The Malaysian agriculture ministry on Monday declared the country free from the H5N1 virus that causes avian influenza after meeting the condition set by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).
Agriculture Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the OIE gave Malaysia the green light to declare the country bird flu-free after the Veterinary Services Department stamped out the outbreak in accordance with the world body's protocol.
The last avian influenza outbreak in Malaysia occurred in June 5 when 60 birds died from H5N1 in Sungai Buloh near the capital Kuala Lumpur. No humans were infected from that outbreak.
Before the June outbreak, Malaysia had the status of being bird flu-free since June 2006. The first outbreak of the bird disease in Malaysia happened in 2004.
