November 18, 2005

Malaysia tests dead pigeons for bird flu; think poisoned

Dozens of pigeons found dead in a northern Malaysian city were being tested for bird flu Friday, although authorities suspected they were poisoned, a veterinary department official said.

Alarmed residents in Taman Gamelan in Ipoh, about 300 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur, alerted veterinary officials after they found more than 40 dead birds on the street and on rooftops late Wednesday and early Thursday, department director general Hawari Hussein said.

An unidentified motorcyclist was seen throwing wheat grains to the birds Wednesday evening. The feed was believed to have been poisoned because some residents later saw some pigeons drop dead, the New Straits Times reported.

More birds were found dead in the same area Thursday morning.

"Our concern is to make sure it is not avian flu," Hawari said. "Based on the circumstances and what the residents told us, bird flu is very unlikely, but we will nevertheless do the necessary tests to rule it out."

Hawari said the test results would be released Saturday.