No human infection in H5N1 cases in Kelantan - Health Ministry

The Health Ministry today confirmed that there have been no H5N1 avian flu infection in humans thus far, even though there are cases of infected chickens in Kelantan.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the situation was under control by the Kelantan Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) that all avian species within a 2km radius were being culled to ensure that the disease does not spread.

"Until now there are no reports of humans having been infected by the virus. It is still limited to livestock in the area and there are also no reports of it spreading to other areas," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

He was commenting on the avian flu cases detected in Kampung Pulau Tebu, Tunjong, Kota Bharu, Kelantan, when several dead kampung chickens tested positive for bird flu.

Subramaniam said the source of the H5N1 infection was still being investigated.

He also advised individuals handling chickens in nearby areas to take preventive measures to ensure that the virus did not spread to them.

"We will be watching to see if residents in the area display flu-like symptoms," he said.

He advised all parties involved either farmers or traders to limit their activities of bringing fowls from across the border as the disease was endemic in Thailand.

The Kelantan state government yesterday confirmed avian flu cases through samples taken from dead birds in Kampung Pulau Tebu, on March 6.

State Agriculture, Agro-Biotechnology and Green Technology committee chairman Datuk Che Abdullah Mat Nawi said the state DVS acted immediately by culling 170 birds, including kampung chickens, guinea fowls, geese, ducks, birds, commercial chickens and 100 eggs from the village.

The state government has also set up a task force to eradicate and control the disease in the affected areas. - BERNAMA