March 26, 2008

Asia's first bird flu rapid response centre opens in Bangkok

Asia's first regional rapid response distribution center to rush supplies to any area struck by a bird flu outbreak opened Tuesday (March 25, 2008) near the Thai capital.

The U.S. Agency for International Development, which established the center, said it would allow disease-fighting equipment to be airlifted to affected areas within 24 hours.

The equipment, stored in a warehouse near Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi international airport, includes personal protective equipment, decontamination supplies and laboratory kits, said a USAID press release.

"The Regional Distribution Center in Thailand, the first of three regional supply centers that are being established worldwide, will help ensure countries in Asia will be able to take fast action to counter avian influenza without endangering the lives of the rapid-response teams," US Ambassador Eric John was quoted as saying.

The H5N1 virus has killed at least 236 people in a dozen countries worldwide since it began ravaging poultry stocks across Asia in 2003, according to the World Health Organization. The human fatalities include 17 in Thailand.

There has been a flurry of bird flu outbreaks across Asia in recent weeks, with Chinese officials announcing the H5N1 virus was responsible for killing birds in poultry markets in the southern city of Guangzhou, and India confirming a fresh poultry outbreak near Calcutta.