Four places in Perak free of bird flu, says Tajol
The Star, 28 Apr 2006

IPOH: Four areas in Perak have been declared free of the bird flu virus. 

They are Kampung Changkat Tualang, Kampung Changkat Legong, Ecopark in Bukit Merah Laketown Resort and the Titi Gantung Agriculture Training Institute. 

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Tajol Rosli Ghazali, who made the announcement yesterday, said 1,300 samples, taken during two rounds of surveillance between March 17 and April 17, tested negative for the deadly virus. 

“The virus in the four areas has been successfully contained through the culling of birds and surveillance.” 

Kampung Changkat Tualang and Ecopark first reported the virus on March 16 while Kampung Changkat Legong and the Titi Gantung Agriculture Training Institute reported the virus on March 21. 

Tajol Rosli said 53,662 birds and 6,279 eggs were destroyed. 

“A total of RM128,055.10 in compensation was paid to 405 owners,” he added. 

To a question on whether the announcement was made too early, Tajol Rosli said it was brought forward at the request of several parties such as poultry farmers. 

He said the farmers had asked for the announcement to be made earlier if no new cases were detected. 

“Since news of bird flu found in the four areas broke out, many people have suffered economically. For example, Bukit Merah Laketown Resort suffered RM2mil in losses from cancellations,” he added. 

Tajol Rosli also said that the ban on the slaughter of live poultry in wet markets had been fixed for Jan 1 next year.