2 More Suspect Cases, New Bangkok Alert

[george]

2 more suspect cases, new Bangkok alert

Lat Krabang latest red zone in capital

BANGKOK: Two new suspected cases of bird flu were detected yesterday, while Bangkok was again put on alert as Lat Krabang district emerged as a hot spot.

The suspected cases involved a 2-year-old boy from Khon Kaen and a 67-year-old man from Chainat, the Public Health Ministry said.

They brought the total number of patients with suspected infections to 19, nine of whom had died.

A further five deceased had been confirmed to have contracted the virus.

Public health deputy permanent secretary Thawat Sundarachan, who oversees the ministry's avian flu centre, said more test results would be revealed over the next few days.

He denied the government was withholding information, saying delays had been caused by laboratory procedures.

"We will reveal whatever information we have, because the situation could get worse," he said.

In Bangkok, city hall put Lat Krabang under quarantine after bird flu was found at a farm in the Lam Pratew area.

Culling was under way in the district after birds at the infected farm were destroyed on Wednesday, an official said.

City clerk Nathanon Thavisin said Bangkok governor Samak Sundaravej signed an order to downgrade Chatuchak and Bung Kum to yellow zones as outbreaks in these districts had been brought under control.

"More areas will be made yellow zones strictly as a precaution," she said.

Ms Nathanon refused to confirm whether Dusit district would be quarantined after reports two crows died of the virus at the local zoo, which was subsequently closed.

A final decision would rest with the Livestock Department, she said.

City hall had slaughtered almost 1.14 million of 1.53 million registered birds.

--The Post 2004-02-06