Malaysia reported two new cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu on Thursday in a wild bird and among dead chickens in the central state of Perak. No human cases have so far been reported in Malaysia, which last month reported its first case of bird flu since November 2004, giving the H5N1 virus as the cause of death of 40 chickens in Selangor state. On Thursday, a senior veterinary official, quoting a statement prepared by the agriculture ministry, told Reuters bird culling had begun within a 1-km (1,100 yard) radius around both spots where the cases were detected. "All efforts are being taken to control the disease from spreading and we believe the action taken will control the disease," the official quoted Agriculture Minister Muhyiddin Yassin as saying. Bird flu has killed about 100 people worldwide since 2003, spreading from Asia to the Middle East and reaching Europe and Africa along bird migration routes.
