Bird flu detected near Kuala Lumpur

Malaysian officials on Wednesday confirmed that H5N1 strain of bird flu virus has been detected in Selangor state near Kuala Lumpur, the country's biggest city.

Two samples of some 60 chickens found dead in a village in Selangor state have been tested positive for the bird flu virus, Deputy Director-General of Health Ramlee Rahmat told Xinhua on the phone.

This is the first bird flu case in the country after an outbreak in March last year.

The veterinary department on Wednesday began culling all chickens and birds within a one-kilometer-radius of the village.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry will send teams to monitor the health conditions of residents living in affected areas and look for people with fever or other bird flu-like symptoms, Ramlee said.

He added that up to now there has been no detected human fever cases in the affected area.

Meanwhile, according to reports of local newspaper The Star, Agricultural and Agro-based Industries Ministry Secretary-General Zulkifli Idris also confirmed the report on Wednesday.

Zulkifli said the Petaling veterinary office in Shah Alam, capital of Selangor state, received a complaint earlier on Saturday from a resident in village Kg Paya Jaras Hilir, who said 60 of his chickens died suddenly in the past three days.

The veterinary officers visited the site the following day and took some samples, which were later tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu virus, the newspaper reported on its website.

Zulkifli described the incident as "an isolated case" and assured the public there is no need to worry.

Source: Xinhua