Health Ministry confirms no H5N1 infection on humans in Kelantan

The Health Ministry today confirmed that there was no bird flu (H5N1) infection from chicken on humans reported in Kelantan so far and advised members of the public not to panic.

Its Deputy Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said so far there was no report on H5N1 infection on humans and it only affected free range chicken bred by small-scale farmers.

The H5N1 epidemic only occurred in Kelantan and did not spread to the other states, not even Terengganu, he told reporters after launching the Penang Teeth Icon 2017, here today.

On March 15, the Kelantan government declared H5N1 as a state disaster after several free range chicken died of the epidemic in Kampung Pulau Tebu, Tunjong here on March 6.

Meanwhile, Dr Hilmi said the Teeth Icon (iGG) program would be extended to the other states so that many people would be aware about the importance of having healthy teeth.

Since it was launched last year, the program had succeeded in selecting more than 200 Teeth Icons in five states namely Melaka, Terengganu, Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor and the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

-- BERNAMA