August 3, 2006

 

Laos says bird flu under control after outbreak in July
 

 

The government of Laos said Thursday (Aug 3) it has brought a recent bird flu outbreak in the country under control, and denied reports it had exported diseased birds to neighbouring Thailand.

 

"Laos raises chickens for domestic consumption," Foreign Ministry spokesman Yong Chanthalansy said, adding that the country does not export fowl. "How could the virus spread from Laos to neighboring countries?"

 

Laos and Thailand, which share a border, both reported outbreaks of bird flu in recent weeks.

 

A Thai livestock official speculated that the virus could have started in Laos and transported to northern Thailand in recycled egg trays bought from Laotian merchants. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on Tuesday announced a ban on poultry trade with Laos.

 

That comment and others drew angry reactions from Laotian officials, who said Thailand should cooperate with its neighbours in combating bird flu instead of shifting the blame.

 

Foreign ministers from the two countries had been scheduled to meet Thursday, but the talks were called off at short notice.

 

Yong said the meeting was canceled because delegates on both sides were busy with other duties, not because of the spat.

 

Since Laos announced an outbreak of bird flu at a farm near the capital Vientiane in late July, officials have culled 19,000 birds in the area, Yong said.

 

"We can say the outbreak in Laos was limited to one point and it is under control," Yong said.

 

The virus has been transmitted to humans who have come into close contact with infected birds and carcasses, killing at least 134 people, mostly in Asia, including 15 in Thailand.