July 15, 2004

Thai Prime Minister Denies Bird Flu Epidemic
 

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday denied a new bird flu epidemic had gripped the country despite outbreaks in at least eight provinces.

Officials have stepped up surveillance and monitoring efforts across the country's 76 provinces amid fears of a recurrence of the crisis earlier this year that killed eight people in Thailand and 16 in Vietnam.

Officials said that bird flu was confirmed in northern Chiang Rai province where more than 400 birds were slaughtered last week.

'We have found a virus in many provinces because the government ordered governors and provincial livestock chiefs to check. I don't want any cover-up,' Mr Thaksin said.

'The virus has not yet mutated and the outbreak has not reached the level of an epidemic.'