Two More Admitted To HKL For Avian Influenza Tests, Says Chua

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Two more people from Jalan Genting Klang in Gombak where the bird flu has surfaced were admitted to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) Thursday to undergo tests to determine if they had been infected by the deadly H5N1 virus.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek, in announcing this latest development, said the two were a 49-year-old woman and a 10-year-old boy.
"They have been placed in the isolation ward for observation," he told reporters after launching Nestle's latest health product, Nutren Balance Bar, here.
Dr Chua said that of the seven cases referred to HKL earlier, one had been allowed to return home Wednesday, four were discharged Thursday while one other person had been transferred to the normal ward after tests found he did not display any H5N1 symptoms.
"Overall, only four people remain at the isolation ward in HKL, the two who were admitted Thursday, a two year-old boy (admitted on Tuesday) and a 17-month-old toddler admitted Wednesday," said Dr Chua.
He said bird flu screening continued to be carried out by the Federal Territory and City Hall health departments.
So far 226 households involving 1,149 people at the JPJ and Danau Kota longhousing complexes had been screened, he said.
"Screening activities will continue for at least another week to ensure that these places are completely safe from the H5N1 virus," he said.
Dr Chua also stressed that there had been no human cases so far and that only fowls had been involved.
Meanwhile, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Mah Siew Keong said that a total of 2,227 chickens, 122 ducks, 102 birds and 516 eggs had been destroyed since Sunday night following the outbreak.
He said that all fowls within a one kilometre radius of the affected area in Jalan Genting-Klang would be culled by Sunday.
"I call on the villagers to help us reach our target by Sunday," he told reporters during his visit to Kampung Pasir Wardieburn, one of the four areas along Jalan Genting-Klang being monitored by the ministry for birds and fowls infected by the Avian Influenza virus.
He warned that the ministry would take action against anyone who smuggled out fowls or other birds from the affected areas.
Mah was earlier briefed on the monitoring and culling of fowls in the area by officers from City Hall's Health Department and the Veterinary Services Department (JPH).
A check by Bernama in Kampung Pasir Wardieburn found yet-to-be-caught chickens and even fighting cockerels roaming about.
City Hall's Health Department and JPH personnel also carried out inspections at Kampung Sri Kelantan and the Wardieburn Army Camp here.
A visit to the army camp found that it was home to three peacocks and four "serama" chickens, all kept in a large cage.
The camp's spokesman confirmed that City Hall and JPH had inspected the area earlier Thursday but said that since the birds were always confined in the cage they were not at risk.