KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 23 -- Malaysia's Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) has pushed back against claims that local farms are fuelling a "superbug" threat, insisting that animal-based food products in the country remain safe and that recent reporting on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was inaccurate.

In a statement today, the department addressed concerns raised in two articles published by Malaysian media on January 3, noting that key data cited in the reports did not come from official surveillance.

"AMR surveillance findings reported by the department are derived from targeted national monitoring programmes designed to identify trends and must be interpreted within an appropriate epidemiological context.

"These findings do not indi...