Eight warded as precaution

Star: PUTRAJAYA: Eight people, including six children, have been warded at Kuala Lumpur Hospital since Tuesday for symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection following the outbreak of the H5N1 strain of avian flu in Jalan Genting Klang.
All were from different households within the area where the outbreak occurred and all had been exposed to sick chickens. They are aged from two months to 57 years.
Three other people earlier warded for observation have been discharged.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said among those warded was a seven-month baby who showed no signs of having contracted the flu and was allowed to return home yesterday.
He said five others, who tested negative of the H5N1 virus, would be discharged today while results of the seventh patient was pending.
He also said a 17-month-old toddler was placed under observation yesterday and the results of the test would be known today.
“I want to stress that these patients are not yet confirmed cases and are warded as a precautionary measure,” he told reporters here yesterday.
“We have already sent samples to the Institute for Medical Research for tests and the results will be known tomorrow (today).
“They have been put in separate wards specially for bird flu patients. So far, our 11 teams of ministry staff have conducted door-to-door searches of 161 houses comprising 916 residents within the affected area.
“The door-to-door search for those with flu symptoms will continue for seven days.”
Dr Chua said the ministry had also decided to extend its surveillance to residents living outside the immediate 300m radius.
“We will have a 14-day public campaign to encourage those who feel sick or feverish to go for further check-ups at Kuala Lumpur Hospital or other designated hospitals,” he said, adding that so far there was still no need to quarantine residents in the affected area.
The National Operations Room for avian flu had also been activated and those feeling sick or needing more information could call the hotline at 03-8888 6212, he said.
However, he reminded the public that the country was still at “level one” alert as there had been no confirmed cases of avian flu among humans.
“We have not sought any advice from the World Health Organisation as we feel that it’s an isolated incident and we are capable of handling it,” he said.
The ministry had decided that only Dr Chua, health director-general Datuk Dr Mohamad Ismail Merican and its disease control division director Dr Ramlee Rahmat would be allowed to give the media details of any avian flu cases.
Yesterday, the Health and Veterinary Services Departments continued to cull and carry out door-to-door checks on the four villages.