UPDATE : 20 January 2009
Officials have stepped up their surveillance on a possible re-emergence of the deadly bird-flu virus, after tens of thousands of migratory birds have escaped the cold winter to Thailand and mass fowl deaths were reported.
Lopburi governor Jarupong Poldet has led a team of officials from the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, the Livestock Department and the local health office to visit Tawoong District, where some 40,000 migratory birds have taken up residence.
The visit was prompted by complaints from locals that a large number of birds have mysteriously died lately.
Officials found various types of birds nesting in the area.
They have collected bird droppings and sprayed disinfectant to help assure locals that they will be safe from the deadly bird-flu virus, after Lopburi was declared as one of the 14 provinces on the H5N1 watch list.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of migratory birds from Siberia have been sited in in Kwan Kanun District of Phattalung Province. Local officials said that the arrival of the migratory birds were earlier than usual while the number is also larger this year.
They have already been collecting dropping samples every week to test for the bird-flu virus.
At the same time, deputy Pichit governor Suwit Wacharotyangoon said that all 12 districts in the province have already been declared a disaster area due to the unusually cold weather.
He also instructed all livestock officials and local administration offices to watch out for the possible spread of bird flu which becomes more common during the cold season.
Suwit stated that there are now more than 2.7 million free-range ducks and 1.6 million chickens in the province.
During this month and next months, officials will randomly check on all farms and collect samples as well as spray disinfectant to prevent any possible outbreak.
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