Bird flu spreads in Sukhothai

By The Nation
Published on November 12, 2008

The bird flu outbreak that was first detected in Sukhothai's Thung Saliam district has spread to the neighbouring Sawankhalok district where 30 chickens died yesterday from the deadly avian virus in Moo 2 of Tambon Nai Muang, an informed source said.

Public health officials immediately buried the dead birds, sent samples for laboratory testing and disinfected the entire village to prevent the bird flu from spreading.

Another 385 chickens belonging to 28 farmers in the Moo 2 were caught last night and would be culled this morning as a precautionary measure.

Livestock officials have called the 13 village headmen in the tambon to explain the situation to the residents and urge them to cull the tambon's chickens.

The Livestock Development Department will dispatch 40 officials this morning to Sukhothai, which has been declared a red zone, to organise a team with another 40 local officials to X-ray the 13 suspected areas in the province, spray disinfectants and set up checkpoints to stop poultry transport.

Agriculture Minister Somsak Prisananantakul yesterday admitted the H5N1 strain of avian influenza was detected in Sukhothai and urged for the virus containment.

He said the strain found in Uthai Thani, however, was only identified as H5 virus and would take 1 - 2 days to confirm. He added that a poultry transport ban had already been imposed there.

Tak province yesterday requested an additional 80-strong team from the Livestock Development Department to examine birds at checkpoints at the area in Tak near the Sukhothai outbreak area. He also urged all kamnans and village headmen to help inspect villages for suspected bird flu cases.

Phitsanulok livestock official Methee Ketadisorn said the province had sprayed disinfectant in all districts on October 22, before the virus was detected in Thung Saliam, and had not yet received any dead bird reports.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/11/12/national/national_30088176.php