Sabah has imposed an immediate ban on the import of all birds from the Philippines after the country reported its first case of bird flu last week.

"Till this moment, Sabah is free from the avian influenza/bird flu. The Sabah government is committed to ensuring that this bird flu-free status remains so," State Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Abdul Rahim Ismail said according to the Bernama news agency late yesterday.

Sabah lies close to the Philippine archipelago and there are frequent movements of people and goods between the two.

Abdul Rahim said licenses to import birds from the Philippines had been immediately suspended and the transit of all birds through Sabah was also restricted.

He also warned visitors not to bring in birds or bird products.

Jail and a fine

"Importing animals or animal products without a valid licence from the Sabah Veterinary Services and Livestock Industry Department is an offence punishable with a year's jail and RM2,000," he said.

The Philippines on Friday confirmed the country's first case of bird flu among ducks at an isolated farm just outside of Manila, but said the risk to human health was next to zero.

Agricultural Secretary Arthur Yap said the evidence so far showed the virus was not the deadly H5N1 strain that has claimed the lives of more than 50 people in Asia since an outbreak was reported in 2003.

Malaysia had an outbreak of bird flu in 2004 in northern Kelantan state but contained the infection and in January declared itself free of the virus.