February 11, 2009
New law needed to set up medical unit to observe bird flu in Thailand
A new law is needed to set up an integrated medical unit to maintain bird flu surveillance on humans and poultry as well as diagnose the virus in Thailand, according to a health researcher.
Phra Mongkut Medical College researcher Ram Rangsin said although Thailand's disease surveillance system was on par with international standards, it could not deal efficiently with emerging infectious diseases such as the mutation of bird flu.
To optimise surveillance, there should be an integrated unit to keep a watch on humans and poultry and provide a one-stop service.
Thailand Livestock Development Department director-general Yukol Limlaemthong said work was going on all the time to control any outbreak of bird flu.
Yukol said areas prone to the deadly virus were examined twice a year and a massive clean-up of poultry farms was launched four times a year.
He played down fears of the virus mutating into a more lethal strain, adding that although studies show there are some changes in viral genetic characteristics, they are not at a dangerous level.
He was confident that existing preventive measures could contain outbreaks of the infectious disease.
He said vaccination of poultry would not be used as culling in infected areas would control an outbreak.
