Bird flu: No infection in humans reported - Rundi

KOTA KINABALU, Aug 7 (Bernama) -- The Sabah Health Department has not received any reports of bird flu virus infection in humans after Tuaran was declared as an outbreak area, says its director Datuk Dr Christina Rundi. 

She said the department was working with Sabah Veterinary Services Department (JPV) to monitor and ensure no individuals had been infected with bird flu via the zoonotic virus.    

"We have our own team to check the village and outbreak area as we want to find out whether the virus has been transmitted to humans.  

“The evaluation will continue,” she told reporters after opening the state level World Breastfeeding Week here today. 

Christina said the department was also in full preparedness for bird flu infection as the department has been conducting simulation for health officers in handling the outbreak.

On Aug 3, Sabah Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Junz Wong declared Tuaran as a bird flu outbreak area after tests on a chicken farm in the district turned up positive for bird flu.

Yesterday, Sabah JPV culled about 10,000 chickens in the farm which was a portion of the 28,000 chickens in the farm which will be culled following the discovery of the virus.

-- BERNAMA