 Kuala Lumpur, 2006/02/22, IRIB
Malaysia's national zoo has closed its bird exhibit and has started disinfecting visitors and their cars to prevent the spread of a bird flu outbreak which has hit the country, an official said Wednesday.
Zoo Director Mohamed Ngah said he was concerned as the zoo was only a 10-minute drive from a village where 40 free-range chickens had died of the deadly H5N1 strain of the avian influenza.
"We have 300 free-flying storks, this is my worry. Until the government gives the all-clear, we have closed the bird enclosure," Mohamed said.
"We are now using biosecurity, using antiseptic to kill the virus," he said.
All vehicles entering the zoo compound will be sprayed with disinfectant while visitors will be required to walk through antiseptic carpets, he said.
Malaysia confirmed late Monday a new outbreak of avian influenza after chickens died in four villages just north of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
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