January 21, 2004

Thailand To Conduct Mass Poultry Slaughter In 20 Provinces

The Thai Agriculture Ministry will conduct a mass poultry slaughter in 20 provinces in a bid to end the poultry disease outbreak that has plagued the country.

"We cannot yet say how many chickens will be destroyed in the next few days, in addition to the 850,000 heads of poultry already slaughtered. All I can say is that it will be quite a large number," said Minister Somsak Thepsuthin after a closed-door meeting with his deputy Newin Chidchob and Livestock Department chief Yukol Limlaemthong.

All birds found within a 5km radius of affected farms would be killed and every poultry farm in a 50km radius would be inspected for signs of fowl cholera and bronchitis, Mr Somsak said.

The minister declined to name the 20 provinces affected, saying that doing so could cause panic among poultry raisers and consumers.

"The measure targets chicken farmers who did not cooperate with agriculture officials in getting rid of infected chickens since the outbreak began in November," Mr Somsak said.

"From now on, poultry farmers who refuse to cooperate will face legal action for breaking the Animal Disease Control Act."

Chachoengsao was the only affected province where farmers cooperated with official epidemic control measures, he said. Elsewhere, most poultry raisers refused to allow officials to enter their farms.

Mr Somsak said the farmers' attempt to keep their poultry in expectation of higher prices during the Chinese New Year was partly to blame for the ministry's failure to contain the outbreak.
 

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation yesterday pledged to help the ministry cope with the outbreak. Under the FAO's technical cooperation programme, a maximum of 15.5 million baht would be set aside to help FAO's member countries deal with such disasters.

In a letter to Mr Somsak, regional representative for Asia and Pacific He Changchui said: "Staff from the regional office in Bangkok together with colleagues from Rome headquarters stand ready to assist the Department of Livestock Development, if so required."

The European Union Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, David Byrne, said the EU was very concerned about the transmission of new or exotic diseases from animals to humans.

"I am therefore encouraged to see the Thai authorities conducting an intensive surveillance programme to ensure that they will not be caught unawares, should the disease eventually reach Thailand," Mr Byrne said, referring to the outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring Vietnam, where five people have succumbed to the disease.

Laos has banned the import of poultry and poultry products from Vietnam and Thailand.

In Nakhon Sawan province, chicken butcher Pichet Meunsap has reportedly fallen ill but it has not been confirmed whether he had contracted bird flu.

Nakhon Sawan senator Malinee Sukhawejworakij said Mr Pichet's condition had worsened and he was being kept on a respirator. She denied saying Mr Pichet had bird flu, but added she was duty-bound to warn the public.