Another outbreak

Star: PUTRAJAYA: Two cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu strain have been detected in Perak.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said one case was detected at the Ecopark in Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, a tourist spot.
“As a routine surveillance, we sent five faecal samples of birds to the Veterinary Research Institute for testing on March 9. The presence of the virus was confirmed yesterday (Wednesday),” he said in a statement here Thursday.
There are 249 birds from 30 species living in an enclosed area at the Ecopark.
The other case, Muhyiddin said, was detected in Kampung Changkat Tualang, some 100km from the Ecopark, after villagers reported the suspicious deaths of nine chickens to authorities.
“We received the report last Saturday. Testing confirmed the virus yesterday. Staff from the Health Ministry will be going to the affected areas to conduct surveillance on residents there,” he said, adding that staff began culling all birds and chickens within 1km of the affected areas last night.
Muhyiddin urged the public not to move any chicken or fowl out of the two affected areas.
At a press conference, Veterinary Services Department acting director-general Datuk Dr Mustapa Jalil said the affected village was near to a chicken and duck farm.
“I have recalled all the enforcement officers in the state. We will have a team of some 50 officers to cull the birds and conduct surveillance within the 10km radius of the affected area,” he said.
On the source of the virus, Dr Mustapa said in the case of Ecopark, it was possible that the virus could have been transmitted by migratory birds at a large lake nearby.
“Currently, we would advise those hoping to visit the Ecopark in Bukit Merah resort to stay away from the bird enclosure. But they can still visit other areas at the tourist spot,” he said.
“We have also opened an operations room in Perak, and the public can report any death of birds or chickens at 05-5461 322.”
Dr Mustapa also said that no fowl would be allowed to leave the state.
Health Ministry Disease Control Department director Dr Ramlee Rahmat, when contacted, said active surveillance would be carried out.
The latest cases came just as the authorities were embarking on a final operation within a 10km radius of the villages in Setapak where the virus first surfaced, before declaring the country free of avian flu.
When contacted, MK Land Holdings executive chairman Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar, whose company owns Bukit Merah Laketown, said the 0.404ha bird park at the 1.2ha resort would be closed indefinitely.
He said, however, business elsewhere in the resort would go on as usual.