Rising infections in region could mean bird flu threat here

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Bird flu could return to Thailand after the number of patients infected with avian influenza in neighbouring countries, including Vietnam and Cambodia, drastically increased over the past four months, health experts warn.

The Public Health Ministry should keep a close eye on the possibility of crossborder transmission of the deadly H5N1 bird flu, Dr Tawee Chotpitayasunondh of Bangkok Children's Hospital said.

Speaking at the 13th Public Health Conference held by Mahidol University, he said about 30 birdflu infections in neighbouring countries had been reported since January. For all of last year, the number of infections was 40.

Tawee said the mortality rate from bird flu was about 6070 per cent.

"Thailand remains vulnerable to bird flu," he said.

Tawee said public health officers should tighten the birdflu surveillance system and closely monitor cases of human infection. Meanwhile, the Livestock Development Department should keep an eye on mysterious deaths of livestock.

The good news is that so far, there have been no reports of a mutation of the avianinfluenza virus to make it resistant to the drug oseltamivir, sold under the trade name Tamiflu.

"We can still use oseltamivir to treat patients with the birdflu virus," he said.

Meanwhile, prominent Chulalongkorn Hospital virologist Dr Yong Puworawan said the H1N1 2009 influenza virus had now become a seasonal flu strain along with influenza A subtype H3N2 and influenza B for this year's flu season, which will start in May.

"We found that the 2009 influenza virus is less dangerous than seasonal flu," he said.

Yong said oseltamivir resistance by influenza H1N1 (2009) viruses had slightly increased from 0.2 per cent in the second wave of the 2009 flu pandemic at the end of that year to 0.8 per cent in the third wave of the pandemic last June.

"There is no need to worry about the 2009 flu outbreak," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-04-29

"the mortality rate from bird flu was about 6070 per cent"

it's a very high rate of mortality - over 60 times higher than from beheading.

did the nation mean 60-70%

"the mortality rate from bird flu was about 6070 per cent"

it's a very high rate of mortality - over 60 times higher than from beheading.

did the nation mean 60-70%

Yeah well this strain of bird flu is REALLY bad Equal to being beheaded 60 times in one sitting.

Haven't we been through this a few times already? I will believe it when I see it.

Ah well, this means the tourist figures will be down another 20 billion this year.