Chua: Five Warded For Observation Against Bird Flu

KUALA LUMPUR, June 12 (Bernama) -- A husband and wife were among five latest admissions to hospitals for observation against the bird flu after having fever and coming into contact with dead chicken.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the couple, aged 53 and 45 from Felda Selanca 5, Rompin had been admitted to the isolation ward at the Segamat Hospital, Johor.
"They were found to be suffering from fever, cold and cough on June 5 and had come into contact with dead chicken when they buried the fowl at their farm in Kampung Tok Cik Dol, Tanah Merah, Kelantan," he said in a statement, here today.
He said that besides the couple, two siblings aged one-year-and-nine-months and 10 months from Jalan Gambang, Kuantan were also admitted to the Kuantan Hospital for observation yesterday after suffering from fever, cough and cold.
They were admitted to hospital as one of their elder brothers had come into contact with dead chicken below their house, he said.
Dr Chua said an 11-year-old boy was also admitted to the isolation ward at the Sungai Buloh Hospital yesterday after being referred to the hospital by a private clinic in Sungai Buloh.
"All the patients are in stable condition," he said.
The minister said that as of yesterday, the five were among the 21 cases under investigation at isolation wards at hospitals in several states.
"Sixteen of them had been confirmed negative of the Avian Influenza virus," he added.
He said cumulatively, 768 homes had been visited and 4,608 residents of Kampung Paya Jaras Hilir, Sungai Buloh had been interviewed and examined as of yesterday since the Avian Influenza viral infection among chicken was detected in the area on June 5.
All the houses and residents concerned were located within 300 metres of the affected area.
Meanwhile, the Veterinary Services Department (JPH) said in a separate statement that investigation carried out at a farm in Kampung Padang Mukim Gajah, Kedah where 30 chicken were reported to have died since last month revealed that they were negative of the H5N1 virus.
The test was confirmed on June 9 by the Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) Ipoh.
In addition, a VRI test on two ducks that died at Kampung Lembah Harapan, Seberang Takir, Kuala Terengganu also proved that the ducks were free of the H5N1 virus.
The JPH said it had also traced the latest case of four fighting cocks that died at the Block Q, PKNS Flat, Keramat here yesterday. They were also found to be free of the H5N1 virus.