December 15, 2008

Bird flu prevention launched in nine Thai provinces

Thailand's Livestock Development Department launched a special operation to prevent the reappearance of bird flu in nine lower northern provinces.

Thailand's deputy prime minister and also acting minister of agriculture and cooperatives Major General Sanan Kajornprasart said the department will disperse teams to disinfect farms . in the provinces of Sukhothai, Uthai Thani, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Nakhon Sawan, Kampaeng Phet, Pichit, Phetchabun and Tak. The operation will take place from December 15 to 20.

General Sanan said that the operation was an attempt to prevent the spread of bird flu virus to other provinces. Sukhothai and Uthai Thani would be however under a special, closer watch due to previous bird flu occurrences.

Health officials detected the H5N1 strain of bird flu in a dead fowl in Sukhothai’s Thung Salium district in late October, and also a number of unknown causes of dead birds found in Nong Chang district of Utai Thai province in mid-November.

Acting director-general of the livestock department Dr Yukol Limlaemthong said that he was not sure if the vaccine to control the outbreak would be effective, as it has been used in Hong Kong during the past six years, but poultry was found carrying the bird flu virus.