Chua Reiterates No One Infected By Bird Flu Virus

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 (Bernama) -- No one has been infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus and the government is not hiding any case, said Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek who urged the public to ignore such rumours.
He said the approach adopted by Malaysia in dealing with the current outbreak of bird flu in the country was acknowledged by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as among the best in the world.
According to him, his ministry and the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry were transparent in their handling of the outbreak and frequently met the media to provide the latest information for the public.
"We not only call news conferences but also met all the state executive councillors responsible for health, embassy officials and representatives of business organisations.
"Therefore, it is not true that some bird flu patients had been warded in government hospitals and we are hiding the fact from the public," he said in reply during the debate on an emergency motion on the bird flu outbreak tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, Tuesday by M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat).
He said only 21 hospitals in the country have isolation wards, personal protection equipment and the trained personnel to accept and treat suspected bird flu patients.
Minister of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who also spoke in reply, said the government would assist chicken and duck rearers who suffered losses because of the bird flu outbreak.
"Perhaps Bank Pertanian can discuss with them how to revive the industry after the outbreak ends," he said.
He also made it clear that the money paid by the government to the owners of birds culled was a consolation payment and not compensation as it was not right for the government to bear the huge cost of the loss.
Muhyiddin said he was very happy with the cooperation given by villagers and breeders in the culling exercise.