The Kelantan State Veterinary Services Department is closely monitoring the situation in two villages where the bird flu virus has been detected in the past two weeks, a Malaysian official has said.

    Director of the State Veterinary Services Department Idris Kadir told reporters Wednesday that the virus was detected from the samples taken from chicken and ducks in Pulau Besar and Pulau Korek villages in Tumpat district in the last two weeks.

    The veterinary staff had eliminated 266 birds from the two villages, he said, adding that his department had paid 42,000 ringgit (11,052 US dollars) in compensation to 172 farmers whose chicken and ducks were culled.

    Idris said they would also monitor suspected areas in Tumpat, Kota Baharu, Bachok and Pasir Mas.

    He said road blocks were still being conducted by the authorities since the threat of the disease from southern Thailandwas still serious.

    A total of 18,625 chicken had been eliminated since the outbreak of the disease in Kelantan on Aug. 17.

    The highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus was first detected in Baru Pasir Pekan village in Tumpat District on Aug. 17.

    The dread H5 bird flu virus strain is believed to have originated from an infected fighter cock brought in from southern Thailand.