January 30, 2004

Bird Flu Could Cost Thailand US$500 Million

According to estimates by the Bank of Thailand yesterday, the cost of culling chickens due to bird flu is expected to be around Bt1.76 billion (US$45 million) in the immediate term.

And if chicken exports do not resume within five months, Thailand may suffer further losses amounting to Bt19.6 billion (US$500 million).

The Bank of Thailand said the bird flu outbreak would help push economic growth down by around 0.4 percentage points, or 0.2 percentage points if a government rehabilitation program is factored in.

Livestock officials in Thailand have declared 31 of the 76 provinces epidemic zones.