No Human Cases Of Bird Flu, Says Chua

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.