Thailand Offers Eu Help In Fight Against Bird Flu

[Brew]

copied from Reuter's

Thailand offers EU help in fight against bird flu

12 Oct 2005 09:22:23 GMT

Source: Reuters

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BRUSSELS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Thailand, whose poultry sector has been ravaged by bird flu, offered its assistance to the European Union as the disease appeared to creep ever closer to the EU's borders, the EU executive's chief said on Wednesday.

"Thailand has great expertise in this area," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told a joint news briefing with visiting Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, thanking him for his country's offer of help.

Bird flu began sweeping through Thai poultry flocks in late 2003, all but wiping out markets for what was then the world's fourth largest poultry exporter.

Now, the highly contagious disease has been found in Turkey and may also be present in Romania. Both countries have already culled thousands of birds to prevent the virus from spreading.

Later on Wednesday, the Commission is expected to announce whether laboratory tests have confirmed bird flu in EU candidate country Romania. If so, there is likely to be an immediate ban on Romanian poultry imports, as there is already for Turkey.

In the case of Turkey, similar tests should determine whether the strain of bird flu present in the country is a low pathogenic strain or, more worringly, the deadly H5N1 strain that has killed more than 60 people in Asia since late 2003.

[tayto]

No bird flu in Thailand, but thousands of chickens die of cholera

Asian Economic News, Jan 16, 2004

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BANGKOK, Jan. 14 Kyodo

Thailand declared Wednesday it is free of bird flu, but said thousands of chickens at local poultry farms have been dying of cholera and respiratory problems caused by rapid changes in the weather.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Newin Chidchob said more than 300,000 chickens have been killed at numerous farms as livestock officials introduced preventive measures after about 5,000 chickens died of cholera in the central province of Nakhon Sawan.

Newin said the chicken cull was made within a 5-kilometer radius of the first farm found to have been affected by cholera.

''There is no bird flu'' in Thailand, the deputy minister stressed. He added that rumors were spreading that Thai chickens were dying of bird flu because such rumors could lead to opportunities to sell bird flu vaccines.

''We won't buy the vaccines as there is no bird flu here,'' Newin said.

''It is a golden opportunity for Thai chicken exporters since prices have surged from $1,500 per ton to $2,400 per ton now,'' he said.

[chownah]

Chownah has generously offered to travel with the Thai governments Bird Flu Aid Tour of Europe and to offer his services to support their goals. He will accept no pay for this other than for his expenses. What a guy!!!

[Jai Dee]

THAI PM OFFERS EU IN CONTAINING BIRD FLU IN THE SEA REGION

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has indicated that José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission has expressed approval in Thailand's offer to control bird flu in the South East Asian region. `Thailand has great expertise in this area,' European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told a joint news briefing, thanking him for his country's offer of help.

The Thai premier revealed that Mr. José had asked for Thailand to assist its neighbors, the way the United States wanted.

Mr Thaksin told the European Commission president that Thailand is glad to provide full cooperation, as an experienced country capable of controlling the spread of the disease, would do. He also noted that some countries in Europe who are not members of the European Union also have had experiences of the deadly H5N1 strain.

Prime Minister Thaksin disclosed that Mr. José also expressed concerns about Thailand's southern unrest and that the Thai premier had already explained to him. Finally Mr Thaksin said he had expressed his gratitude to the EU especially the EU's assisatance to Thailand during the tsunami crisis and the installation of the warning system which will completed this year.

Source: thaisnews.com ประจำวันพฤหัสบดีที่ 13 ตุลาคม 2548

[freeinfo]

Thailand Offers Eu Help ...

this will be interesting

[plachon]

Thailand Offers Eu Help ...

this will be interesting

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

300,000 chooks dying of "cholera". A govt. minister declaring that Thailand is absolutely free of bird flu (mai mee banha EU), while the PM smoozles up to the Prez of EU and offers help in defeating bird flu in Europe.

Pure Monty Python comedy mixed with a severe bout of deja vu. Like the Elite Card, this series runs and runs and gets better by the showing...........

Bet old David Byrne (ex-EU Food Commissioner) who was led up the garden path a treat by the Thai govt., and had to do a massive U-turn first time bird flu popped up, is having an epileptic fit when he reads that Jose has been praising Thailand for their " great expertise in this area". Covering up the facts or eradicating bird flu? - we are left in the dark on what he was doling out praise for.

Edited October 13, 2005 by plachon

[britmaveric]

You have to love Thailand's initiative though....

[Sphere]

Thailand offers EU help in fight against bird flu

It's never to late to teach the EU members the fine art of denial.

Edited October 13, 2005 by Sphere