More than 800 poultry culled
The Star, 23 Feb 2006

PUTRAJAYA: More than 800 chickens, ducks and birds have been culled within the 1km radius of the bird flu-hit area in Setapak in the last 48 hours and the Veterinary Services Department is stepping up surveillance within the 10km radius from today.  

The department is roping in staff from other states, UPM veterinary students as well as staff from other government agencies to help in the one-week surveillance.  

Acting director-general Datuk Dr Mustapa Jalil said the areas to be covered were Pudu, Hulu Klang and Kepong. 

“My advice to residents living in these areas is not to panic. The Government is doing its best to stop the H5N1 virus from spreading,” he told a press conference here yesterday.. 

“But, if there is any poultry death, the owner   must  report  it i mmediately  to

the authorities. Do not touch the dead chicken with bare hands, let us handle it.” 

Dr Mustapa said the department had activated a rapid response team to carry out surveillance and taken poultry samples for testing.  

“The culling process has been completed and the owners will be compensated according to the rates approved by the Government. So far, 723 chickens, 58 ducks and 54 birds have been culled and 455 eggs destroyed within the 1km radius,” he added. 

Dr Mustapa said the department’s operations centre had received many calls asking if it was safe to eat chicken. 

“Don’t worry. It is safe to eat chicken. In fact, I am having chicken soup for dinner tonight,” he said.  

Members of the public can contact the department’s bird flu centre at 8870 2041/2. 

In Kuala Lumpur, 20 Veterinary Services department mobile teams are being deployed within the 10km radius to take fluid samples from poultry.

The department's deputy director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jaluddin said swabs taken from the birds would be analysed at their laboratory in Petaling Jaya.  

“If no virus is detected within 21 days, we can declare the area free of avian flu,” he said. 

Abdul Aziz said they had also ordered pet shops selling birds within the 1km radius, to close temporarily.