January 20, 2005

 

 

Thailand on high alert after new bird flu outbreak

 

Thailand confirmed Thursday its first outbreak this year of the H5N1 strain of bird flu that can be deadly to humans, prompting authorities to declare a high alert throughout the country.

 

The announcement that bird flu had been found in two Thai provinces came just as Vietnam announced its sixth human fatality from H5N1 in the past three weeks.

 

Thai scientists found the virus in 20 fighting cocks in the eastern province of Rayong, said Yukol Limlamthong, director general of Livestock Development Department.

 

"Tests confirmed on January 10 that some 20 fighting cocks in two houses were infected," he told AFP.

 

The 20 infected birds were all found in Klang district and have already been killed, he said. Members of the family that raised the chicken were also tested for the virus, but were negative.

 

Strict monitoring had been imposed to ensure that the virus will not spread to other villages. Rayong is 145 kilometers or 90 miles east of Bangkok.

 

A second outbreak was confirmed in the central province of Phitsanulok, where 50 locally bred chickens were confirmed to have the disease on January 17, he said.

 

Both districts will be under a 21-day surveillance period, and no chickens could be taken in or out of the area, Yukol said.

 

Livestock officials have urged local authorities to strictly enforce the transport ban by closely monitoring checkpoints.

 

"We're stressing the importance of setting checkpoints to intercept any attempt to transport chickens from an affected area to another area. Local village administrations were asked to be alert and to inform livestock officials if they detect any illegal transportation," he said.

 

"And we have asked owners of fighting cocks to carefully watch their birds and not bring them out of their area," he said.

 

Public Health Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan said letters have been sent to all the country's provincial governors, urging them to remain on high alert for any cases of bird flu in humans.

 

She said she also met with hospital directors, urging them to keep vigilant watch for any human outbreaks.

 

The ministry also asked its health volunteers across the country to check for any possible outbreaks in their areas, and to report their findings to district officials and regional hospitals.

 

Twelve people have died in Thailand from the virus that has swept Asia since December 2003.