February 23, 2006

Thailand's Pattani province on high alert for bird flu

Thailand's southernmost province of Pattani is on high alert to stop the possible spread of bird flu from neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia, local media reported on Feb 22.

The Pattani provincial livestock office has ordered close monitoring on the movement of poultry in the province due to recent reports of the bird flu in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Sanong Srinantaphan, head of Pattani's provincial livestock office, said officials have been instructed to keep both live and dead fowls in local farms under close surveillance.

Sanong said while samples of poultry faeces and blood have been sent for tests at the livestock center in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, tests results are not available yet.

He added that since surveillance started in early February, the examinations and tests have not detected the bird flu virus in the province.