February 20, 2004

Thailand Warns Fujian Flu Comeback May Worsen Bird Flu Turmoil

The Fujian flu may make its comeback in May or June posing a major risk to Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, as it would complicate attempts to bring the bird flu epidemic under control, Thai Public Health Ministry officials warned.

"Fujian flu was discovered last year in northern China before spreading to North America. The disease could spread to the Southeast Asian region this year," Medical Science Department director-general Somsong Rakphao said Thursday.

Somsong said an outbreak of Fujian flu would add chaos to the bird-flu epidemic. He was speaking on the sidelines of an international meeting on the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, held in Bangkok.