September 30, 2004

Malaysia Increases Bird Flu Protection Measures

Veterinary workers beefed up efforts Wednesday to prevent a bird flu flare-up from worsening in northern Malaysia. This move comes after authorities in neighboring Thailand reported their first probable case of human-to-human transmission of bird flu.

Surveillance teams have been ordered to take samples from birds across Kelantan state, which borders southern Thailand, to ensure no fresh infections have occurred after some villages were recently hit by the deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu, said state veterinary director Idris Kadir.

"The veterinary department views (the reported case in Thailand) with seriousness," according to Idris. "Our staff has been directed to intensify efforts ... to make sure that the birds here are free of avian flu."

Malaysia discovered bird flu in Kelantan on Aug. 17 in fighting cocks smuggled from Thailand. More than 13,000 chickens, ducks and pet birds in a dozen villages where the strain has appeared have been gassed to contain the outbreak.