H5N1 bird flu detected in northern Malaysia
20/03/2006 - 09:21:42The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread to northern Malaysia, authorities said today, after several dead chickens were found infected in a poultry-rearing village.
Officials will slaughter more than 200 birds in Permatang Bagak Village in Penang state after tests confirmed that at least six chickens died there of H5N1 last week, said Veterinary Services Department acting director general Mustapa Abdul Jalil.
It was the first bird flu outbreak in Penang following two cases reported last week in neighbouring Perak state, where the virus was detected among chickens in a village and birds in a wildlife ecotourism park.
The first outbreak this year occurred in four villages outside Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia’s largest city.
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