June 18, 2007

Thailand bans poultry transport along Thai-Malaysia border

The Livestock Development Office of Narathiwat Province in Thailand has blocked transport of poultry across the Thai-Malay border after Malaysia was hit by bird flu.

Weerachai Wirojsaengarun of the Narathiwat's Livestock Development has issued a memorandum stating the prohibition of transport poultry across the border as Malaysia detected a bird flu outbreak of H5N1 strain in Kuala Lumpur's rural area on June 6. The ban is aimed to prevent bird flu spread across Thailand.

Punishments for those who violate the ban include an imprisonment of not exceed two years and/or a fine of not exceed 40,000 baht.

Weerachai says closed poultry farms with at least 1 to 2 percent of dying poultry or may have reduced in feed and water intake by 20 percent a day may suffer from avian influenza. As for open-range poultry farms, if 5 percent of its poultry are sick or dying within 2 days manifesting respiratory and nervous symptoms, they are suggested to alert the provincial livestock office or other government official immediately.

Weerachai also prohibits people from selling animals which have died from unknown cases.