Tests On Samples Show Area Free Of H5N1 Virus

PUTRAJAYA, March 2 (Bernama) -- The results of clinical tests on 2,685 samples carried out since yesterday found that they were free of the Avian Influenza H5N1 virus, Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.
The tests were done by the veterinary research laboratory of the Veterinary Services Department in Petaling Jaya, except for 23 of them which were carried out in Ipoh, Perak.
"This shows that the cases (of the H5N1 virus) which were detected were isolated ones," he added.
On the H5N1 situation in the densely populated areas near Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Muhyiddin said it was under control and attributed this to the effective surveillance and screening system that was carried out.
"But, we (ministry) cannot declare the area to be completely free of the bird-flu yet," he said after the ministry's post-cabinet meeting here Thursday.
He added that the Veterinary Department would continue with the surveillance work in areas within the 10 km radius of Kampung Batu 4 1/2, Jalan Genting Kalang where 40 chicken died due to bird-flu until the area was found to be completely free of the virus.
He also said that the cabinet had approved about RM18,000 to be given as compensation to owners whose poultry were killed by the Veterinary Department.
Muhyiddin said a chicken eating campaign would be carried out to wipe out fear among the public following the recent bird-flu scare.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would launch the campaign in conjunction with the launching of the "Green Book" at Hulu Langat, Selangor, tomorrow.