2,000 Chickens Destroyed In Culling Exercise
Bernama, 24 Feb 2006

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- The culling of fowls over a radius of one kilometre from where the Avian Influenza H5N1 virus was detected in Jalan Genting Klang, Kuala Lumpur, is expected to be completed on Sunday.

Veterinary Services Acting Director-General Datuk Dr Mustapa Abdul Jalil said 2,227 chickens, 122 ducks, 102 fowls and 516 eggs had been destroyed in the exercise involving the department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the police.

Today's exercise involved 40 teams, and included 62 students from Universiti Putra Malaysia's Medical Faculty.

Dr Mustapa said areas within two to 10 kilometres from where the problem surfaced were also being monitored, involving 122 chicken or fowl owners, 1,820 fowls, three pet shops and 331 other premises. "So far, 447 samples had been taken and tested and all were found to be without the virus," he told a press conference here.

He said checks and monitoring of the situation were also conducted in other states, adding that so far there were no indications of the virus having spread there.

Dr Mustapa said the public should not worry because chickens, ducks and eggs in areas unaffected by the H5N1 were safe for consumption.-- BERNAMA