Bird flu Kuala Lumpur

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has reactivated its avian flu watch following news cases in neighbouring countries.
Deputy director-general of Health, Datuk Dr Hasan Abdul Rahman, said the Health Ministry was looking out for people with symptoms in the wake of cases in Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.


He said the Veterinary Services Department was closely monitoring poultry farms, bird sanctuaries and pig farms.



He said although there had been no cases of the disease reported in the country since 2007, the ministry would not let its guard down.
Dr Hasan said the nation was also on alert for influenza A (H1N1) and dengue.
The H5N1 virus that causes avian flu is also an influenza A subtype that is highly contagious and deadly among birds.
The H5N1 virus does not spread among people, but infections have occurred from animals to humans.
Most cases resulted from direct or close contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces.
Symptoms of H5N1 infection in humans are fever, cough, sore throat, muscle ache, eye infection, pneumonia and severe respiratory diseases such as acute respiratory distress.
Dr Hasan said the ministry would keep in contact with WHO and its counterparts in Asean countries for updates on H5N1 and H1N1.