Doctor stands firm on bird-flu warning amid govt denials

By THE NATION

 

File photo

 

Top officials reject concerns about H5N1 after dead animals found at zoo.
 

A RESPECTED doctor has stood by his claims that there were bird-flu infections in Thailand last year, even after several senior government officials issued denials on Monday. 

 

Dr Thiravat Hemachudha, who heads the Emerging Infectious Disease Health Science Centre at Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, yesterday released details of bird-flu incidents to back up his claim. 

 

Dr Thiravat Hemachudha

 

He said a full investigation into the deaths of several animals between August and September last year confirmed bird flu had occurred in Thailand. 

 

“The Animal Health Research Centre for Lower Northeast [in Surin], for example, found all 40 small carnivores that became sick or died at a zoo were infected by H5N1,” he said. 

 

According to the World Health Organisation, not all avian influenza viruses cause disease in humans but some can infect humans and cause severe infections. The most well-known of these is the H5N1 virus.

 

Thiravat added that he had already forwarded information he had to Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn.

 

On Monday, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Grisada Boonrach insisted that bird flu had been eradicated in Thailand more than a decade ago and suggested that businesses affected by Thiravat’s claim could consider suing for compensation.

 

However, Thiravat has refused to back down, presenting further details about bird-flu cases that he said occurred in Thailand last year. 

 

He said livestock officials had been alerted about suspicious animal deaths and went to investigate, while control measures were also implemented. For example, a zoo official with flu-like symptoms was prescribed Oseltamivir, which is often prescribed for people suspected of catching bird flu. 

 

Thiravat said 32 zoo officials were also put on surveillance in the wake of bird-flu infections. 

 

He added that the zoo had also temporarily closed its small-carnivore zone as a precaution and banned animal transport and fowl feed at its compound.

 

“Believing that zoo animals might have caught bird flu from quails, livestock officials also checked quail farms in four districts of Nakhon Ratchasima,” Thiravat said, in an apparent reference to the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo. 

 

The academic also released written communications between two doctors, whose names were withheld. 

 

The conversation was a discussion on whether authorities should activate bird-flu responses and warnings. The two also discussed what medical equipment the Public Health Ministry would have to prepare in the event that bird flu spread. 

 

Earlier this week, Thiravat said he had spoken up about bird-flu incidents in Thailand in the hope that relevant authorities would prepare a proper emergency response. 

 

Thiravat said he was especially worried about the possibility the virus would spread from fowl to various other types of animals. 

 

“Now, we see civets, fishing cats and crab-eating mongooses infected by the bird-flu virus,” he said. “What if the virus can pass on from these types of animals to humans?”

 

Livestock Development Department deputy director-general Jeerasak Pipattanapong-sophon said his agency had not found any spread of H5N1. 

 

“We have inspected the Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo and it does not have a bird-flu problem either,” he said. 

 

Akkapob Thongsawatwong, who heads the 3rd Regional Bureau of Animal Health and Sanitary, said although many deaths were reported at the zoo, they were not related to H5N1. 

 

He said animal carcasses had been sent to the Animal Health Research Centre for Lower Northeast and results of detailed lab tests showed they were not positive to H5N1.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30341884

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-28

It's true.

 

Flocks of laying hens (including ours) died all over Amphoe Khong (Korat) in September last year.

 

I believe that fighting cocks were unaffected.

 

 

 

Careful youll end  up in a defamation  court case, cant go speaking any truths  here, oh  no , we  cant have that you  nasty nasty bad  man.

47 minutes ago, Enoon said:

It's true.

 

Flocks of laying hens (including ours) died all over Amphoe Khong (Korat) in September last year.

 

I believe that fighting cocks were unaffected.

 

 

 

the air is bad,the beach is dangerous,the chicken is questionable..what next ''thai hotdogs''....mmmm lovin it

Edited March 27, 20188 yr by mok199
speliing

34 minutes ago, Enoon said:

It's true.

 

Flocks of laying hens (including ours) died all over Amphoe Khong (Korat) in September last year.

 

I believe that fighting cocks were unaffected.

 

 

 

I believe stupid cocks in govt unfortunately werent affected  either

2 hours ago, webfact said:

On Monday, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Grisada Boonrach insisted that bird flu had been eradicated in Thailand more than a decade ago and suggested that businesses affected by Thiravat’s claim could consider suing for compensation.

wholly overstepping the bounds of his authority with that suggestion and compounding his own stupidity; would venture this is grounds for defamation against him

2 hours ago, webfact said:

The conversation was a discussion on whether authorities should activate bird-flu responses and warnings.

Dont Panic! sitting on such information that could effect the lives of the public, is an inexcusable crime, any delay that results in (any ) or (one)  loss of human life.,

 due to the lack of such communication,

should have a mandatory custodial  sentence.

 

 

Common flu kills far more than bird/swine flu by far.

 

Some very rich people own some very large chicken farms in Thailand. Last year Thailand exported about 400 million chickens.

 

Bird flu outbreaks can cost producers enormous amounts of money.

 

It's much easier if there are no outbreaks...

Remember his name before he 'disappears'.

Oh, oh, another dissenting expert. Now I'm waiting for an 'academic cleansing' campaign.

Adjan Thiravat is an internationally-respected, world-class virologist who has published extensively on viral diseases in animals in major scientific journals.  

(http://apps.who.int/whocc/Detail.aspx?cc_ref=THA-57&cc_ref=tha-57).

I believe him.

 Come on folks who do you believe?

An internationally respected doctor, or the bunch of clowns in government here.

Sad thing is the poor doctor will quietly disappear, never to be heard of again.

Thai do not care about disease pollution or death. Only money

On 28/03/2018 at 10:05 AM, colinneil said:

 Come on folks who do you believe?

An internationally respected doctor, or the bunch of clowns in government here.

Sad thing is the poor doctor will quietly disappear, never to be heard of again.

Pension House want the cash..The games nearing a end

Just yesterday the first shipment of fresh poultry was delivered to China,i hope you can all understand we can not have any kind of birdflu

spoil this?

If all goes well pretty soon we can put these chickens on a high speed train north and all will be fine.