Twenty-five students who developed a fever after some 90 chickens died at an agricultural college in Perak will remain in isolation despite testing negative for bird flu, an official said today.

"Based on lab findings, tests have proved negative for avian flu," Ramlee Rahmat, director for the health ministry's disease control division told AFP .

"It is only the common cold," he said, referring to the students who came down with fever and exhibited influenza-like symptoms over the weekend after the birds died on Friday.

The students would, however, remain in isolation at the school "as a precautionary measure, as there has been a history of chicken deaths," Ramlee said. They will be released as soon as they recover, he added.

There has been no bird flu in Malaysia despite outbreaks in neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.

Minimal impact

Health Minister Chua Soi Lek in remarks published today said the chickens were killed by the Newcastle Virus, not bird flu.

"This virus has minimal impact on humans and we hope the situation will go back to normal soon," he was quoted as saying by the Star .

China, Thailand and Vietnam have all reported new cases in recent days, sparking fears of a resurgence of the winter outbreak that left 24 people dead and devastated the region's poultry industry.