AVIAN INFLUENZA - MBDS REGION (64): THAILAND (SUKHOTHAI), confirmed

Date: Mon 10 Nov 2008
Source: MCOT, Thai News Agency (TNA) [edited]
<http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=7196&t=4>


Thailand confirms fresh case of bird flu in Sukhothai
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The deadly H5N1 avian influenza has been detected in a dead fowl in
central Thailand's Sukhothai province, Agriculture Minister Somsak
Prisanananthakul said on Monday [10 Nov 2008].

Laboratory tests on Sunday [9 Nov 2008] confirmed that a chicken
carcass from Thung Saliam district was infected with the virus,
prompting the killing of all chickens at the farm to prevent a
possible outbreak.

It was the 1st case of bird flu in Thailand since January [2008] when
2 other cases were found in Nakhon Sawan's Chumsaeng district and
Phichit's Sak Lek sub-district in January [2008].

"There are no reports of any people having contracted bird flu, said
Mr Somsak. The minister also said the surrounding area will be
monitored for 21 days and Thailand will inform the World Organisation
for Animal Health (OIE).

Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Chalerm Ubumruang said the
Ministry's Disease Control Department director-general Dr Somchai
Chakrabhand will travel to the area to find measures to help prevent
the public from contracting the disease.

New bird flu patients have not been found in Thailand in the past 2
years, said Mr Chalerm.

The minister warned people not to sell or consume birds, which died
mysteriously as they might carry the bird flu disease.

Meanwhile, Dr Somchai said health officials and volunteers had
monitored 430 houses occupied by about 1500 villagers in Thung Salium
district in the past 2 weeks and so far no one was found to have
contracted with the disease.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-MBDS
<promed-mbds@promedmail.org>

[This is a new report of an H5N1 outbreak in poultry from Thung
Saliam district of Sukhothai province in Thailand. Previously,
Sawankalok district of Sukhothai province had reported a suspected
H5N1 outbreak. According to the Department of Livestock Development,
testing of the dead poultry in Paknam sub-district, Sawankalok
district, Sukhothai province was negative for H5N1 infection. (see
prior PRO/MBDS posting Avian influenza - MBDS Region (63): Thailand
(Sukhothai), update 20081104.3472). According to the newswire above,
this is the 1st confirmation of H5N1 infection in poultry in Thailand
since January 2008.

For a map of Thailand showing the geographic regions, see
<http://thailandforvisitors.com/general/regions.html>.
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