Malaysia says 7 from bird flu area in hospital

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia, Feb 22 (Reuters) A Malaysian minister said today seven people staying near the site of a bird flu outbreak were in hospital with respiratory problems, but test results would only be available after a day.

Health Minister Chua Soi Lek told a news conference in Malaysia's administrative capital two adults and five children aged between 2 and 12 staying within 300 metres of the affected area on the edge of the Malaysian capital had been taken to hospital.

''Those warded are the ones exposed to the chickens,'' he said, using a common term for hospitalisation.

Malaysia on Monday reported its first case of H5N1 bird flu in more than a year, with the death of 40 chickens last week, in what authorities called an isolated event.

REUTERS SI DS1235