October 28, 2005

Thailand finds fighting cocks with bird flu

Four fighting cocks, from a north-eastern Thai city Kalasin, have contracted bird flu during a tournament and died on a farm in the Yangtalad district. All 69 chickens on the farm have since been culled.

Investigations revealed that the bird flu was contracted at the central region and not from within Kalasin province itself, so the province is not yet at risk although it is now subject to quarantine regulations, according to Thailand's Agriculture Minister Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan.

There are now 16 areas in six provinces of Thailand subject to bird flu disease control measures.

Although most cock fighting venues and farms have pledged co-operation to fight bird flu-by shutting down the rings and agreeing to official requests-officials have found about 7,900 poultry, mainly free-range ducks, being moved without permits in the past few days.