February 9, 2004

 

 

Thailand To Start 2nd Round Of Bird Flu Tests On Chickens

 

Thailand is starting a second round of nationwide tests for bird flu, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said Monday, as a precautionary measure in case the virus emerges in previously uninfected areas or has managed to escape detection on certain farms and facilities during the first round of tests.

 

In Bangkok province, bird culling following the first round of tests is still ongoing, Somkid said.

 

"We are rushing the controlling process in Bangkok... However, the second round of sampling tests is starting now in other provinces," Somkid told reporters.

 

The deputy prime minister didn't say if the second round of tests has already begun in Bangkok province.

 

Since late last month, the avian flu virus has been found among poultry in 40 of the country's 76 provinces, and officials have slaughtered nearly 26 million birds to try to stop the spread of the disease.

 

Somkid also said a team of inspectors from Japan will visit Thailand next week to conduct a test on Thai cooked chicken.

 

"Actually, I would like them to come this week. I would like to see their concerns ease as soon as possible," Somkid said.

 

Since late January, Japan has suspended imports of both uncooked and cooked chicken from Thailand, while the European Union has banned only raw chicken products.

 

The Thai health ministry, citing studies by the World Health Organization, has said the H5N1 virus can be destroyed by heat in the cooking process. Since then, the government has been asking Japan to resume imports of Thai cooked chicken.

 

In his weekly radio address Saturday, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said banning Thai cooked chicken borders on protectionism and warned of retaliation measures.

 

"They shouldn't discriminate against Thai products without good reason. Don't complain, if we use the same discriminatory measures," Thaksin said.

 

Thailand is the world's fourth-largest poultry exporter, with Japan and the European Union accounting for at least 80% of the country's more than $1 billion in chicken exports.