Bird flu symptoms found in Malaysian pair

Medicine & Health / Diseases

Health officials in Malaysia are taking all precautions regarding a 31-year-old man and a teenager who recently showed symptoms of the bird flu virus.

The Bernama news agency said Sunday that a 16-year-old was treated recently in the state of Terengganu after showing signs of the virus, while health officials began examining the elder patient in the state of Selangor.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek said samples from both patients were being tested to find any trace of the H5N1 virus.

"The teenager is believed to have been exposed to the reared chickens and ducks which had died in Seberang Takir, Kuala Terengganu," he said.

The health minister also said several other patients who reported having virus-like symptoms were released recently after being cleared by regional health officials, the news agency reported.

Included among those fortunate individuals were 30 residents of Kampung Paya Jaras Hilir, a village suspected of harboring a bird flu virus outbreak.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

ť Next Article in Medicine & Health - Diseases: Newly discovered antibody may be body's natural defense against Alzheimer's

would you recommend this story?