Final check on area hit by bird flu

Star: PETALING JAYA: The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry will conduct a final operation within the 10km radius of the bird flu-hit villages in Setapak tomorrow before declaring the country free of the deadly H5N1 virus.
The announcement will be made after a three-day “mass surveillance” exercise ending on Sunday.
Some 200 Veterinary Department officers, City Hall health workers and Universiti Putra Malaysia students will be involved in the operation, which includes random door-to-door checks on residents’ health and taking swab samples of birds found there.
“The area had passed its mandatory 21 days' surveillance. No incidence related to the deadly H5N1 virus was detected or reported during the crucial period.
“However, to be extra sure one last exercise will be held before the declaration is made,” department director-general Datuk Mustapha Jalil said.
He said the samples would be analysed at the department's laboratory here and research centre in Ipoh.
He said people should not be surprise or worried when they see large groups of health and veterinary officers visiting their place.
Instead, he urged them to assist the officers by volunteering information and allowing them to take swab samples from their birds.
On Feb 21, a safety ring was thrown around the 10km radius in Setapak after 40 kampung chickens were found dead in Jalan Genting Klang.