Thailand To Closely Monitor Bird Flu For Another 3 Months

Thailand to closely monitor bird flu for another 3 months

BANGKOK: -- The Public Health Ministry said it was necessary to closely monitor the bird flu situation in the next few months as there was possible risk of an outbreak, said a senior ministry officer.

Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Phaijit Varachit said the ministry needed to closely monitor the bird flu situation in Thailand because there were still poultry and human cases of the avian flu in other countries.

He added the cold weather in many parts of the world was prompting wild birds to migrate to Thailand. He has instructed public health officials to work closely with husbandry officials and other local officials to prevent bird flu from further spreading among poultry and humans in Thailand.

Mr. Phaijit said more than 800,000 public health volunteers across the country were visiting villagers at their houses to track any possible bird flu infection and prevent an outbreak. He urged people to abstain from slaughtering sick chickens for consumption, particularly during the Chinese New Year celebration starting February 6.

Commenting on 31 people under 14 day surveillance after coming into direct contact with poultry in Nakhon Sawan’s Chumsaeng and Phichit’s Saklek districts where avian flu was detected in chickens, Mr. Phaijit said none had tested positive for bird flu.

From 2003 until now, the World Health Organization has confirmed 357 bird flu human cases in 14 countries. Of these 225 proved fatal. In 2008 already there have been seven bird flu patients reported in Indonesia and one in Vietnam.

--TNA 2008-02-03