Bird Flu Outbreak In Thailand

[Jai Dee]

Bird flu outbreak in Thailand for first time in 10 months

The deadly H5N1 virus has killed 400 chickens in central Thailand, in the first outbreak of bird flu in 10 months, livestock officials said Thursday.

The outbreak was confirmed by laboratory tests after the poultry deaths were reported Monday by a farm in the Chumsaeng district of Nakhon Sawan province, about 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of the capital, Bangkok, said Somboon Srisupthep, head of the province's livestock department.

About 50,000 chickens being raised at the farm were expected to be slaughtered later in the day to contain the virus, Somboon said.

The outbreak is the first in Thailand since March 18, 2007, when about 50 ducks and chickens were found dead in northeastern Thailand.

Bird flu remains hard for people to catch, but health experts worry the virus could mutate into a form that passes easily among humans, sparking a pandemic. So far, most human cases have been linked to contact with infected birds.

At least 219 people have died worldwide from the virus, according to the World Health Organization.

Source: AP - 24 January 2008

See also reports in this thread.

[Jai Dee]

Thailand confirms new bird flu outbreak

BANGKOK - THAILAND has confirmed a new outbreak of bird flu among chickens, the first detection of the deadly H5N1 virus in poultry in 10 months, the livestock development department said on Thursday.

The virus was found last week among chickens on a farm in Nakhon Sawan province, 245 kilometres north of Bangkok, a livestock official said, adding 4,085 chickens have already been slaughtered.

'The results of the laboratory test confirmed yesterday that it is bird flu virus,' said the official, who declined to be named.

The latest outbreak was the first since Thailand found bird flu among chickens in March 2007. No human cases have been detected since July 2006.

Thailand has been among the countries hardest hit by the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, recording 25 human cases, 17 of them fatal, since the outbreak began here in 2004.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed 219 people worldwide, mostly in Southeast Asia, since 2003, according to the World Health Organisation.

The strain is mainly an animal disease, but scientists fear it could mutate to easily jump from human to human, sparking a deadly global pandemic.

Source: New Straits Times - 24 January 2008

[Thai at Heart]

Oh dear!!!! Here we go again!

[sriracha john]

Too bad the Bird Flu Minister Sudarat is banned from politics now... She would have sorted this out quickly... Just deny it.

[Jai Dee]

Thailand hosts int'l bird flu conference

Bangkok: A world meeting on avian influenza opened here on Wednesday, drawing some 500 researchers and academics from over 40 countries to exchange experiences on bird flu vaccine research in humans and animals.

Thai Minister of Science and Technology Yongyuth Yuthavong presided at the opening ceremony of the "Bangkok International Conference on Avian Influenza 2008: Integration from Knowledge to Control". He said the aim of the conference is to provide opportunities to share updated scientific information and to learn from individual experiences.

The forum has provided opportunities for knowledge, particularly lessons from the past three years, to learn from their experience to adapt applications for controlling the spread of bird flu virus (H5N1).

It would also facilitate international understanding and collaboration, which is essential for handling the global threat, the minister was quoted by the state-run Thai News Agency as saying.

"Without doubt the emerging infectious diseases, especially avian influenza," he said, "is a global concern which no nation can be complacent about."

Globalization of trade and travel can also act as a catalyst to expand this disease throughout wider regions.

"There are good measures in place to reduce and minimize the risks, but these are not considered watertight systems," he said. "Seasonal outbreaks will continue to occur."

For this reason, he said, "it is necessary to continue to be on the alert and to maintain procedures necessary to protect both the public and animal health."

The Bangkok conference opened Wednesday and will continue through Friday.

It is organized by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and a number of allied organizations in Thailand.

Source: Xinhua - 24 January 2008

[absolutelyBangkok]

Good to have Thaksin's boys back to handle this.

Remember how he threatened the media, doctors and scientists when they could not longer cover up the outbreak?

Even the bird flu became a victim of Talk-sin.

[Thai at Heart]

Good to have Thaksin's boys back to handle this.

Remember how he threatened the media, doctors and scientists when they could not longer cover up the outbreak?

Even the bird flu became a victim of Talk-sin.

hel_l he even tried to trade chickens for fighter planes. Better run and flog my CP shares!

[LPCustom69]

Hopefully, this is handled properly, and efficiently

[xerostar]

Oh no!

We have just finished building my Thai sister-in-law a new chicken run.

Of all places .. in Nakhon Sawan!

I'm not sure if she has bought some chickens yet, but most likely ..

Looks like it is a classical case of bad timing .

[absolutelyBangkok]

My take: The flu never really disappeared.

They just talk about it now because there is, as mentioned above, this conference in town:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-01/...ent_7482746.htm

They have to keep these gentlemen busy.

Slightly out of context the whole drama, but the media obviously love it.

[Ricardo]

Too bad the Bird Flu Minister Sudarat is banned from politics now... She would have sorted this out quickly... Just deny it.

"But it isn't Bird-Flu, that doesn't exist in Thailand, the poor little chooks have just got sore throats, wanna buy some shares in CP going-cheep gov'nor ? I had that Chicken-Little, in the back of the cab, last week ..."

Edited January 24, 2008 by Ricardo

[Jai Dee]

New bird flu outbreak in Nakhon Sawan

The deadly bird flu virus has killed 300 chickens in Nakhon Sawan's Chumsaeng district, the first in ten months.

The outbreak at Sri Prai Farm was confirmed by laboratory tests after the poultry deaths were reported Monday.

As of now, about 20,000 of 50,000 chickens were already culled and 45,000 others were expected to be slaughtered today to contain the virus.

The farm which supplied the fowls to Saha Farm company has four breeding houses and the virus was found in the second breeding house. This was the second time that the virus was found in this farm.

The Livestock department is expected to cull chickens in one to five kilometres radius from the farm.

Meanwhile Pol Col Damrong Phetpong, a senior provincial police chief, said that police will set up checkpoints to ensure that there was no transfer of chickens from the area.

Source: The Nation - 24 January 2008

[johnsalat]

Good to have Thaksin's boys back to handle this.

Remember how he threatened the media, doctors and scientists when they could not longer cover up the outbreak?

Even the bird flu became a victim of Talk-sin.

There is also Dengue Fever in Patong Beach ,Phuket i know 3 persons who have contracted it ,but nothing said in the media or print newspapers .

[Jai Dee]

Bird flu strikes again in northern Thailand

The H5N1 bird flu virus has re-emerged in a northern Thai province for the first time since March last year, forcing the slaughter of 10,000 chickens, an Agriculture Ministry official said on Thursday.

The outbreak occurred on a farm in Nakhon Sawan, 240 km (149 miles) north of Bangkok, where the owner reported 4,085 chickens had died earlier this month, senior Livestock Department official Nirundorn Aungtragoolsuk told Reuters.

"The H5N1 virus was found on the farm and we have culled the rest of them," he said of the birds slaughtered in one of four closed chicken houses on the farm.

The others house 45,000 chickens which had shown no signs of the deadly avian influenza virus, he said.

The virus last reappeared in northern Thailand in March 2007, but there have been no new reports of human infections in the country, where the virus has killed 17 people since 2003.

Of the 351 human cases recorded since H5N1 re-emerged in Asia in 2003 and spread to parts of Africa and the Middle East, 219 have died, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The virus does not currently spread easily between humans, but scientists fear it could mutate into a form that would trigger a global pandemic, killing millions of people.

Source: Reuters - 24 January 2008

[Ricardo]

Meanwhile Pol Col Damrong Phetpong, a senior provincial police chief, said that police will set up checkpoints to ensure that there was no transfer of chickens from the area.

Source: The Nation - 24 January 2008

"Get your official police exemption-certificates here, for only a poultry/paltry fee, roll-up !"

"But officer, these chickens that look like chickens aren't chickens, they're extremely-rare Siberian-ducks !" (with apologies to Basil Fawlty)

"Sorry constable, I don't have any chickens, only these tigers en-route to China !" "That's OK - on yer way !"

Can we now anticipate free fried-chicken, at all PPP party-events, as in days-of-yore ?

[ericB]

Thailand hosts int'l bird flu conference

Bangkok: A world meeting on avian influenza opened here on Wednesday, drawing some 500 researchers and academics from over 40 countries to exchange experiences on bird flu vaccine research in humans and animals.

Thai Minister of Science and Technology Yongyuth Yuthavong presided at the opening ceremony of the "Bangkok International Conference on Avian Influenza 2008: Integration from Knowledge to Control". He said the aim of the conference is to provide opportunities to share updated scientific information and to learn from individual experiences.

The forum has provided opportunities for knowledge, particularly lessons from the past three years, to learn from their experience to adapt applications for controlling the spread of bird flu virus (H5N1).

It would also facilitate international understanding and collaboration, which is essential for handling the global threat, the minister was quoted by the state-run Thai News Agency as saying.

"Without doubt the emerging infectious diseases, especially avian influenza," he said, "is a global concern which no nation can be complacent about."

Globalization of trade and travel can also act as a catalyst to expand this disease throughout wider regions.

"There are good measures in place to reduce and minimize the risks, but these are not considered watertight systems," he said. "Seasonal outbreaks will continue to occur."

For this reason, he said, "it is necessary to continue to be on the alert and to maintain procedures necessary to protect both the public and animal health."

The Bangkok conference opened Wednesday and will continue through Friday.

It is organized by the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and a number of allied organizations in Thailand.

Source: Xinhua - 24 January 2008

Will it be like for AIDS in the past? I mean will the international organisations give away some $$$$$$$$ to help?

[sriracha john]

Of the 351 human cases recorded since H5N1 re-emerged in Asia in 2003 and spread to parts of Africa and the Middle East, 219 have died, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The virus does not currently spread easily between humans, but scientists fear it could mutate into a form that would trigger a global pandemic, killing millions of people.

Source: Reuters - 24 January 2008

Discouraging that the mortality rate from contracting bird flu remains so incredibly high...

even without the catastrophic results should it mutate into human to human transmission.

Edited January 24, 2008 by sriracha john

[photojourn]

How accommodating of Thailand to organise an outbreak to coincide with an international conference. Most countries/organisers would just hold a cocktail party or reception.

Reminds me of Viet Nam in 1997 when Vietnam Airlines crashed a plane in Cambodia on the eve of a transportation exhibition and air safety congress.

Such co-ordination and creativity needs to be rewarded. Just remember you need to cooks chicken above 72C to kill the virus.

Plate of barbecued chicken wings anyone?

[peterpanner]

These road accidents are 12 years old, but I couldn't find anything newer right now:

http://www.factbook.net/A&PStats.htm

(17,000 fatalities, 43,000 injured in Thailand)

I suggest we cull all cars first. Problem with that: pharmaceutical companies can't create a panic around that subject.

[Tony Clifton]

I wonder if Dr. Suwit Wibulpolprasert's idea to seize foreign nationals in the event of an influenza outbreak is still floating around? The "good" doctor had proposed taking hostage Western tourists until Thailand had received flu vaccines. Thai Nobel prize laureate? Not in this century.

Edited January 24, 2008 by Tony Clifton

[sriracha john]

Can we now anticipate free fried-chicken, at all PPP party-events, as in days-of-yore ?

Two volunteers for the "Let Me Eat This Chicken First To See If It Will Kill" program...

Prime Minister Shinawatra raises a chicken in the air before helping to cook it. The government has launched a campaign to ease public concerns over eating poultry. February 7, 2004.

Edited January 24, 2008 by sriracha john

[anon467367354]

I wonder if Dr. Suwit Wibulpolprasert's idea to seize foreign nationals in the event of an influenza outbreak is still floating around? The "good" doctor had proposed taking hostage Western tourists until Thailand had received flu vaccines. Thai Nobel prize laureate? Not in this century.

If they quarantine Thailand, and I'm assuming that what is meant by the hostage thing, will I be allowed to work and would I not have to do those stupid visa runs? I say they should quarantine now and really make an issue out of it.

Nothing will benefit health and increase the chances for survival on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.

Albert Einstein

[Jai Dee]

Thailand detects first bird flu outbreak in almost a year

Thailand has confirmed a fresh outbreak of avian influenza on a commercial chicken farm in the central province of Nakorn Sawan after almost a year of being bird-flu-free, authorities confirmed Thursday. Authorities promised to complete culling up to 50,000 chickens on four commercial farms in Chumsaeng district, Nakorn Sawan, 220 kilometres north of Bangkok, after laboratory tests confirmed that the recent deaths of 1,000 fowls on one of the farms was due to the H5N1 virus.

"I am confident that the Livestock Department and local authorities can handle the situation," said Livestock Department director general Sakchai Sriboonsue.

Thailand, one of several South-East Asian nations to be hard hit by the bird flu epidemic in 2004 to 2005, has not reported an outbreak of the disease for more than 10 months.

The virus has undermined Thailand's once booming exports of uncooked frozen chicken meat. Millions of fowl have been culled in Thailand since 2004, and at least 17 people have died after contracting the virus from birds.

Avian influenza cases have been reported among birds in 60 countries over the past four years. Most of the 219 human deaths from the disease since 2003 have been reported in Asia with the highest number of fatalities seen in Indonesia and Vietnam.

India on Wednesday reported a fresh outbreak of H5N1 on chicken farms in the eastern state of West Bengal.

Source: DPA - 24 January 2008

[bsided69]

Bird flu outbreak in Thailand for first time in 10 months

The deadly H5N1 virus has killed 400 chickens in central Thailand, in the first outbreak of bird flu in 10 months, livestock officials said Thursday.

The outbreak was confirmed by laboratory tests after the poultry deaths were reported Monday by a farm in the Chumsaeng district of Nakhon Sawan province, about 210 kilometers (130 miles) north of the capital, Bangkok, said Somboon Srisupthep, head of the province's livestock department.

About 50,000 chickens being raised at the farm were expected to be slaughtered later in the day to contain the virus, Somboon said.

The outbreak is the first in Thailand since March 18, 2007, when about 50 ducks and chickens were found dead in northeastern Thailand.

Bird flu remains hard for people to catch, but health experts worry the virus could mutate into a form that passes easily among humans, sparking a pandemic. So far, most human cases have been linked to contact with infected birds.

At least 219 people have died worldwide from the virus, according to the World Health Organization.

Source: AP - 24 January 2008

See also reports in this thread.

The last time there was big outbreak of bird flu chicken went off the menu at most restuarants for a few weeks. The day after all was declared safe there was chicken back on the menu. Big whole spitroast chickens. How long does it take a chicken to mature to eating size. Must be more than 24 hours?

[thaibkk]

Quarantine the country asap

Nobody can or has to leave

yeah, no more visa runs for us ... as it is totally crap and useless and annoying anyway for us farang

but they might be so crazy to tax us all 5OO baht on overstay anyway

amazing chicking thailand

[grahamhc]

These road accidents are 12 years old, but I couldn't find anything newer right now:

http://www.factbook.net/A&PStats.htm

(17,000 fatalities, 43,000 injured in Thailand)

I suggest we cull all cars first. Problem with that: pharmaceutical companies can't create a panic around that subject.

I remember seeing "Last years" figures on the Thai Police website in the past, but their "new" website no longer has English Language, so, as I do not read thai, I cannot find it. There is a US flag for language, but click it and nothing happens. MAYBE they do not want us to see it!

[selftaopath]

Hopefully, this is handled properly, and efficiently

LOLOLOLL oh thanks for that bit of humor. Oh my that's a good one.

[Jai Dee]

Bird flu detected in chickens in Nakhon Sawan

Bird flu has been detected in dead poultry in Thailand's central province of Nakhon Sawan and a poultry movement ban has been implemented for a five kilometre radius.

Livestock Development Department director-general Sakchai Sriboonsue said the random check of dead chicken samples in the laboratory found the virus H1N1 in dead chicken samples from a farm in Chumsaeng district on January 22.

More than 4,000 chickens died suspiciously on January 18 and the farm owner informed local animal husbandry officials to collect samples of dead chickens for lab tests.

Nearly 10,000 chickens at the farm were culled on January 22 and disinfectant was sprayed throughout nearby areas.

Livestock workers collected cloacal swab samples from live poultry within a five kilometre radius and sent to for laboratory testing for the H5N1 virus to prevent the disease spreading.

Thailand has been among the countries hardest hit by the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

Source: TNA - 24 January 2008

[jomtienbob]

It always surprises me how the media has rarely explained why the WHO and leading scientists and epidemiologists are so concerned about the re-emergence of the H5N1 virus.

Basically it is because this pathogen has mutated to humanly transmittable forms in the past, and in 1918-1920 it was known as the Spanish Flu, which wiped out an estimated 50 million people worldwide in just 18 months! Much more than Aids has killed in 20 years! Check it out on the web, I know most people aren't aware of this. The reason it was called the Spanish flu was because Spain was Neutral in WW1 and had one of the few (non-military governed) Free press in the west at the time, and they reported it extensively whereas the rest of the world did not. This is also possibly why most people don't know much about it.

At this point, governments all over the world have had contingency plans in place for this pathogen, not if it strikes by mutating to humanly transmittable form, but when. Yes we have Tamiflu and relenza, but the experts know that these will only be of some help in the first waves, and after that, the virus will have mutated to be resistant to those and possibly even completely methecilin resistant.

It does sound bad I know, but knowledge is power, and awareness of the threats is better than ignorance. You can confirm everything I say here with just a few google searches. There are things people can do and getting into good habits and get a bit of knowledge about it all is a big start. Good hand hygene and have good disinfectants and sanitizers is also a big step. Remember these viruses don't prefer to fly as much as they love to hitchhike. You more often get it from your hands than from someone sneezing on you. As I say, check it out it might just be the difference for you.

[jomtienbob]

For more info on this subject you can check out the video http://birdflubook.com/g.php?id=6