August 9, 2004

No Mutation Of Bird Flu In Thailand

There has been no mutation of the bird flu virus, which will cause the spread of bird flu from humans to humans, the Ministry of Public Health confirmed Friday.

The Director-General of the Department of Medical Sciences, Dr.Somsong Rugpoa, was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying that observations of avian flu cases in the Ministry of Public Health's laboratories had, so far, found no mutation of the bird flu virus, which could cause the spread of the disease among humans as some had feared.

He affirmed that the department's laboratories in 13 medical centers in provincial areas now have the capacity and efficiency in testing suspected bird flu cases equally to those in Bangkok.

Results of the tests could be known within 24 hours, he said.

The department had also provided useful information on bird flu, including sample collecting and testing procedures of suspected cases to the general public, he disclosed.