October 1, 2004

 

 

Thailand Needs Years To Eliminate Bird Flu Virus

 

Senior health officials said on Thursday that Thailand would need 2-5 years to eliminate bird flu that has hit the kingdom twice this year.

 

Dr. Charal Trinvuthipong, the outgoing Acting Permanent-Secretary for Public Health and the Director-General of Disease Control, who retired from the two posts yesterday, said that bird flu has become a latest world health threat facing a number of countries, not only Thailand.

 

He called for all responsible ministries to step up their efforts in fighting the ongoing outbreak.

 

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday said bird flu would be eliminated from the kingdom within 30 days.

 

However, Dr. Charal clarified that the prime minister meant to contain the spread, not to make the virus disappear.

 

Thailand reported the first spread of bird flu virus early this year, and had culled over 40 million chickens. Eight people died from contracting the virus before it was contained.

 

The virus, however, returned two months ago, affecting several provinces nationwide, including some parts of the capital city of Bangkok.

 

''Bird flu has become a local disease for Thailand, and it will not be that easy to get rid of it. Look at New Zealand, which is far more developed than Thailand. It took that country 2-3 years to eliminate the virus from their homeland. For Italy, it took five years to succeed the same thing,'' said Dr. Charal.

 

He leveled public fears that the outbreak could be worsened in the approaching winter, saying the Ministry of Public Health has prepared to cope with both SARS and bird-flu viruses.

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Prasert Thongcharoen, a Thai adviser to the World Health Organisation (WHO), said to contain the bird flu spread, the government must look into two areas -- the bird flu outbreak in chickens and in humans.

 

''It is not clear what the prime minister means --whether he wants to get rid of the virus in birds or in humans. I think it is possible to succeed within 30 days if we want to contain the virus in people. But it will definitely take longer to eliminate bird flu virus in fowls. Other countries took 2-3 years to successfully eliminate bird flu,'' he noted.