KOTA BARU, March 18 — Two new locations were identified as positive for the bird flu (H5N1) epidemic in Pasir Mas since yesterday, according to the Kelantan Veterinary Services Department in a statement today.

The statement said monitoring operations involving 10 samples from two owners of the fowls had been carried out and 554 birds and 415 eggs had been disposed off at the two locations.

The statement, however, did not mention the two new locations which were positive of the epidemic.

"As a whole, up to March 17, 28 locations had been confirmed as being positive of the H5N1 virus in six districts namely Kota Baru (14 locations), Pasir Mas (six), Tumpat (three), Tanah Merah (one), Bachok (one) and Pasir Puteh (three), involving 43 premises.

"The number of disposals stood at 30,927 fowls and 11,804 eggs. A total of 3,012 samples had also been taken from 502 owners,” the statement said.

The statement also said that a task force had been mobilised immediately to catch and dispose off all fowls within a radius of one kilometre from each location found to be affected by the disease, and at the same time, monitoring teams were mobilised in areas between one and 10km radius from each location affected.

It said the epidemic was now under control within a radius of 30km from the location, Kampung Pulau Tebu involving six districts affected by H5N1. — Bernama