Bird Flu: Five People Admitted To Hospital For Observation

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Bernama) -- Five residents of Kampung Paya Jaras Hilir -- four men and a woman -- were admitted to the Sungai Buloh Hospital yesterday for observation after showing flu-like symptoms.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the residents, aged between 11 months and 35, were in stable condition.
He said they were staying within the 300m radius of the area where chickens were tested positive for the A/H5 virus.
"They went to the hospital to get treatment and have been isolated because of the symptoms," he said in a statement today.
Dr Chua said until 6pm yesterday, checks had been conducted on 476 houses and 3,204 residents of Kampung Paya Jaras Hilir and Kampung Kubu Gajah in Sungai Buloh by the Selangor Health Department officials.
"So far, there's still no case which meets the definition of the avian influenza infection among humans detected," he added.
Dr Chua said a total of 187 officers were involved in various operations to prevent and monitor the disease, including 22 at the Sungai Buloh Hospital isolation ward and 55 from the Veterinary Services Department.
He said health education programmes would continue to be conducted in the affected areas and an additional 530 health pamphlets and health alert cards would be distributed to the residents.
Until now, 889 health pamphlets and health alert cards had been distributed, he added.
The minister said that the ministry's Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre in Putrajaya, which opened yesterday, had received five calls from the public complaining of fowls roaming in their neighbourhood and seeking advice on measures to prevent bird flu.
Dr Chua also said culling of the fowls within a kilometre radius of the outbreak, comprising Kampung Paya Jaras Hilir, Kampung Paya Jaras Tengah, Kampung Paya Jaras Dalam and Kampung Kubu Gajah, which began at 8pm yesterday, would continue.
He advised residents in the affected areas to inform health authorities if their fowls died under suspicious circumstances and to seek immediate treatment if they came down with fever, coughing, sore throat or breathing difficulties or had direct contact with dead chickens.
Residents are also advised to ensure their hygiene by washing their hands with water and soap often.