April 26, 2004

Thailand Report Fresh Bird Flu Case
 

Thai authorities have reported a new case of bird flu in Uttaradit province last week. This has forced the Agriculture Ministry to postpone its plan in declaring the country free of the disease on Tuesday.

Yukol Limlaemthong, director-general of the Livestock Department, said the virus was detected on April 19. More than 10,000 chickens on the farm were subsequently culled.

The outbreak could have been prevented if the farm owner had been more cautious, Mr Yukol stated. The owner had bought old water filters from a farm that had been infected previously, and failed to destroy them as ordered.

The farm buildings were demolished, and the area was being monitored for more outbreaks for a 21- day period.

If no new cases occur, the country would be declared bird-flu free around mid-May.

Mr Yukol commented that it was proving hard to eradicate the virus.