Indonesian travellers entering Sarawak are being sprayed with disinfectant in a bid to prevent the spread of bird flu, a report said today.

State Agriculture Department staff at the Serikin checkpoint also spray disinfectant on the tyres of vehicles entering the country from Kalimantan, the New Straits Times said.

The department, with the assistance of the police and military, is mounting 24-hour checks along the border with Indonesia to prevent the smuggling of poultry into the country.

Several Indonesians have been turned away for attempting to bring in chicken through the Serikin border town, about 70 kilometres from the Sarawak capital of Kuching, senior assistant veterinary officer Rosenani Said was quoted as saying.

Free of virus

Since the outbreak of the deadly disease, Malaysia has banned the import of poultry products from all affected countries and stepped up security at the northern Malaysia-Thailand border to prevent the smuggling-in of chickens.

While its neighbours Thailand and Indonesia have confirmed cases of the virus, the Malaysian government has said the country remained free of the virus and local chicken was still safe to eat.

Indonesia admitted the presence of bird flu in the country last week, but has been accused of a cover-up after experts said they first detected the bird flu virus up to two months ago.

No confirmed human victims have been reported in Indonesia from the disease, which has killed 12 people elsewhere in Asia. - AFP