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Children discharged after testing negative for
bird flu virus |
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PUTRAJAYA: The two children admitted to hospital for suspected bird flu earlier in the week were discharged yesterday morning after they tested negative for the H5N1 avian flu virus, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek. Another two were still warded for observation, he said, adding that all necessary samples had been taken from the 42-year-old man and 10-year-old girl, both from villages in Setapak where chickens had died of the virus. Dr Chua said all health, veterinary and City Hall officers involved in the operation to prevent bird flu from spreading had also tested negative for the virus. The first phase of surveillance and monitoring of a 300m radius of the affected area including interviewing 2,065 residents in 505 houses had been completed, he said. |
He added that the second phase started yesterday. “During the interviews, residents were also educated on the bird flu virus and its symptoms as well as actions they would need to take,” he told reporters at the ministry here yesterday. Dr Chua also said that stockpiling of the Tamiflu vaccine was going on and that the ministry had yet to stock up for the targeted 5% of the population. Health Ministry disease control division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat, who was present at the press conference, said the active “table top” exercise will begin next week. The exercise, he said, would get state-level ministry officers in various divisions such as health, education and environment to be better prepared in managing crucial scenarios, including the dissemination of information and having an action plan. |
At a separate press conference, Veterinary Services Department acting director-general Datuk Dr Mustapa Jalil said the culling of birds within a one kilometre radius of the affected area was expected to be completed by tomorrow. “Our earlier survey estimated that only about 150 birds were within this area but later reports from various veterinary departments showed that there were more,” he added. To date, 2,227 chickens, 122 ducks and 102 birds of various species had been culled, he said, adding that 516 eggs were also destroyed.
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