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KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia till today is free
from bird flu infection involving human beings after tests on 15
people around the Genting Klang area here admitted to the Kuala
Lumpur Hospital for further tests proved negative, Health
Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said Monday.
He said there has not been a single case of human beings tested
positive for the deadly H5N1 virus till today.
He, however, said a 17-year-old girl from the Klang Valley, was
warded at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital yesterday for further
examination after she complained of fever.
"She was worried of being infected with bird flu as she was
handling chickens.
"As a precautionary measure, we admitted her to a special ward.
We also sent her blood samples to the Institute for Medical
Research. We will know the results only this evening," he told
reporters after performing
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ground-breaking for the Tropicana Medical Centre in Kota
Damansara.
On latest developments on preventive and monitoring of bird flu,
Dr Chua said his ministry had ended active monitoring involving
all premises within the 300m radius from where 40 free-range
chicken died of bird flu on Feb 19.
"Now we have entered the second round whereby we only carry out
passive monitoring as every house to be visited within the 300m
radius has been completed in the first round over the past five
days," he said.
He said the second round started on Saturday with ministry
officials maintaining a passive monitoring of house occupants in
the affected area for symptoms of bird flu.
Chua said yesterday the passive monitoring is expected to remain
in force for two weeks before the country is declared free from
bird flu. |
Eight hundred and fifty-four houses and 3,120 people were
screened within the 300m radius from the infected area under the
preventive and control exercise mounted by the Health Ministry
and related government agencies.
Asked for his advice to the people if they found carcasses of
chickens or birds in their areas, Dr Chua said the Agriculture
and Agro-based Industry Ministry would give further advice on
dead birds while his ministry would focus on giving advice and
monitoring humans.
A cabinet committee jointly chaired by him and Agriculture and
Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had been
set up to tackle the bird flu outbreak, he added.
-- BERNAMA
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