Five More Admitted To HKL For H5N1 Tests

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Bernama) -- Another five people, including three girls, living around the bird flu-infected area of Jalan Genting Klang were admitted to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital Friday night for examination.
The girls, aged 4, 13 and 14, and two adults, a 44-year-old man, and a 40-year-old woman, were admitted after they spotted symptoms of the deadly H5N1 virus infection -- fever, cough and flu.
Health Services Director-General Datuk Dr Ismail Merican said they were warded in stages from 9pm last night for further examination.
He said they were now awaiting test results from the Institute for Medical Research (IMR).
"So far this morning, five cases are still in the ward. All of them are stable, only they're awaiting test results from the IMR," he told a press conference after opening the FDI-MDA scientific exhibition here Saturday.
Dr Ismail said the results would be known today.
"Most probably all of them will be discharged if the results showed negative," he said.
He said all test results of suspected cases admitted to HKL so far were negative -- they are not infected by the H5N1 avian influenza virus and were allowed to return home.
"Actually, yesterday, before 6pm, I was told there are no cases in HKL, only at 9pm, there were two cases at first and later three came in," he said.
Dr Ismail said the health authorities were carrying out house-to-house screening at Genting Klang area and anyone found to have H5N1 symptoms -- fever, cough and flu -- would be admitted to hospital for further examination.
Till today, the bird flu is only detected in poultry, he added.