September 3, 2004

Thailand To Review Use Of Bird-Flu Vaccine

Thai farmers have been buying bird vaccines on the black market in an attempt to avoid a chicken cull. The government is now considering whether to allow the use of avian-influenza vaccines, which were banned because of safety concerns. A government committee weighing up the issue is expected to report within the next few weeks.

The vaccine review follows a government crackdown on their use. Vaccination claims to keep healthy birds infection-free, thereby protecting the livelihoods of farmers and avoiding the need to kill hundreds of thousands of birds.

But experts at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization warn that even seemingly healthy vaccinated birds can contract the virus and spread it. Black-market vaccines might aid development of a more dangerous strain.

Experts agree that vaccine use can be successful, as long as it is accompanied by strict monitoring and testing - something Thailand does not have the resources to do.

Culling remains by far the most effective way to stop avian influenza from spreading. But this could have a massive impact on the country, which used to be one of the world's main poultry exporters.