November 21, 2005

Thailand's poultry farmers urged not to use bird flu vaccines
 

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra urged poultry farmers on Nov 19 not to vaccinate their flocks as it is not 100-percent effective.

Thaksin said that although Thailand is now encountering another bird flu outbreak, 18 of the 25 areas affected are now under control. He then gave credit to the 800,000 public health volunteers who had helped to monitor chicken farms in their respective villages.

On the vaccination of poultry, Thaksin pointed out that vaccinated chickens that contract the virus could instead become virus carriers for other animals or humans through droppings and saliva.