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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- No one has been infected by
the H5N1
virus since further tests on 15 people from the jalan
Genting-Kelang area who were warded at Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL),
were found to be negative, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek
announced Sunday.
He said the ministry since yesterday ended its active
surveillance, which began in the 300 metre area at the
incident where 40 chickens were confirmed to have died of the
avian influenza
virus last Sunday.
Instead, the ministry starting yesterday, began a passive
surveillance whereby ministry personnel no longer conducted
house-to-house
checks except for cases where residents of an area had
symptoms of the
virus, he said to reporters at a ceremony to mark MCA's 57th
anniversary at Wisma MCA here today.
Dr Chua said the passive
surveillance would be continued for another two weeks. |
The prevention and control operation conducted by the ministry
together with other government agencies on 3,120 occupants of
854 houses in the 300 metre area, found no infection involving
humans.
"As of yesterday, the total number of those suspected (still
warded at HKL, the designated hospital for bird flu cases) were
five people, that is, three children and two adults. Test
results on the five were negative, and we hope that all five are
allowed to go
home today," he said.
Yesterday, Health Services Director General Datuk Dr Mohd Ismail
said five people including three girls aged 4, 13 and 14, as
well as a 44-year old man and a 40-year old woman, were admitted
to the HKL's special ward Friday night after they showed
symptoms of the deadly H5N1
virus infection, that is fever, cough and flu.
Dr Chua asked members of the public especially those residing in
the Klang Valley not to be influenced by the wild |
rumours circulating that the bird flu
virus had infected the people in the area.
"I would like to stress that the bird flu
virus had not infected the people. I would like to assure
that based on the Cabinet directive, we will give information on
a transparent and open manner, and will not hide any cases
related to bird flu," he said.
He said those reported so far were suspected cases based on
information that they were residents of the area where 40
chickens had been infected with bird flu, and steps to ward them
at the HKL, were only precautionary measures.
" After test results were found negative, the patients were
allowed to return
home," he said.-- BERNAMA |
