Transports Of Poultry Banned Along Thai - Malay Border

[Jai Dee]

Transports of poultry banned along Thai-Malay border

The Livestock Development Office of Narathiwat Province bans all transport of poultry across the Thai-Malay border after Malaysia was hit by the bird flu pandemic.

Narathiwat’s Livestock Development Official, Weerachai Wirojsaengarun (วีรชัย วิโรจน์แสงอรุณ), warns local people not transport poultry across the border as Malaysia detected a bird flu outbreak in Kuala Lumpur’s outskirt on June 6th. The bird flu is of the H5N1 strain.

To prevent the pandemic from spreading to Thailand, the provincial livestock office has imposed a ban on imports of live and dead poultry from Malaysia. 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.

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

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

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 15 June 2007