November 14, 2008
Nine northern Thai provinces under bird flu watch
Thailand's Public Health Ministry is strictly monitoring nine provinces in the north after the deadly disease spread in poultry farms in two districts in the region recently, a senior ministry official said.
As cold weather began in most parts of the country, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Paichai Varachit said all hospitals in the nine provinces have been instructed to provide immediate treatment to patients suspected to have contracted the disease or live in areas where birds have died for unknown causes without waiting for laboratory tests.
Health officials on October 28 detected the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in a dead fowl in Thung Salium district of Sukhothai province.
A number of birds were also found dead of suspected causes in Nong Chang district of Uthai Thani province recently.