New outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu virus in northern state, Malaysia says

New outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu virus in northern state, Malaysia says

New outbreaks of the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu have been found in chickens in a village and birds in a wildlife park in northern Malaysia, officials said Thursday.

Nine dead chickens were found in the Changkat Tualang village in Perak state on March 11, and tests showed they died of H5N1, said Veterinary Services Department acting director general Mustapa Abdul Jalil.

Separately, routine surveillance checks on birds in a wildlife ecotourism sanctuary and resort in Perak showed some of them also were infected by H5N1, but none have died, Mustapa said, reports the AP.

I.L.