KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Reuters) — Fears of a fresh outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus have died down in Malaysia following reports that recent tests on cattle in the country’s former hog centre were negative.
The number of pig farms in the southern state of Negeri Sembilan dropped from 800 to one after an outbreak of the viral disease killed 105 people in 1999.
Last week, Chinese newspapers reported that goats and cows had recently died at a farm in the state because of the virus. Two farmers, believed to be infected by the virus when it re-emerged in 2000, had also died, they said.
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However, Negeri Sembilan chief minister Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad said the results of eight blood samples taken recently from cattle farms in the state were negative.
The Nipah virus can lead to encephalitis in humans.
“The tests showed none of the farm animals in the Bukit Pelandok area is infected with either Japanese encephalitis or Nipah virus,” Isa said.
But Isa said another 30 blood samples had been sent to the laboratory for further tests.
Most of the state’s former pig farms have been turned into goat and cattle farms.
More than one million pigs were culled in 1999 because of the outbreak, which nearly destroyed Malaysia’s hog industry. Pork is a popular meat for Malaysia’s Chinese community, which comprises 35 percent of the country’s 22 million people.
Malays, who are the majority, shun pork.
An official at the department of veterinary services in Kuala Lumpur confirmed one worker at a cattle farm in Negeri Sembilan had died, but said that was not caused by a new outbreak of Nipah virus.
“There was a … death involving one worker at a goat farm, but I believe it was the result of an old case. He could have been infected when he used to work at a pig farm,” the official said.”As far as I know, there’s no new break. The government is still conducting tests on pig farms because we can’t take any risk.”
Officials at the department said in addition to pigs, Nipah virus can affect horses and dogs, but there is no evidence it can infect goats or cows.
