Bird flu outbreak spreading Tailland!!!

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Bird flu outbreak spreading (Thailand)
Bangkok Post ^ | Monday July 31, 2006 | POST REPORTERS

Mass killings of up to 300,000 chickens are underway in tambon Ban Klang in Nakhon Phanom's Muang district after a laboratory test confirmed the area had been hit by the bird flu outbreak. The province has mobilised 1,500 health officials to carry out the cull on 70 farms.


The Public Health Ministry yesterday put the number of patients suspected of having bird flu at 80, from 19 provinces nationwide. The number has fallen from the 113 suspected cases reported on Saturday.


This will be the second cull in Nakhon Phanom in as many days. Late last week, 40,000 chickens were slaughtered as a precautionary measure, after poultry died mysteriously.


Governor Nikhom Kerdkhanmak said samples of chicken carcasses were sent to the Centre for Veterinary Research and Development in Khon Kaen for tests, and the result showed the dead chickens were infected with bird flu.


To prevent further spread of the disease, all chickens in the community would be culled, he said.


Health workers would set up checkpoints to spray disinfectant on vehicles. A ban on poultry movements has also been imposed along the Thai-Lao border.


Chaweewan Liewwijak, deputy chief of the Livestock Department, said the outbreak of bird flu was worrying. All chickens must be killed to contain the disease as quickly as possible.


Every household would be sprayed with disinfectant while residents have been put under surveillance, Ms Chaweewam said during an inspection trip at tambon Ban Klang yesterday.


Peera Areerat, an expert attached to the public health office in Nakhon Phanom, said 122 villagers had records of being in contact with chickens. Two were suspected of having bird flu and were placed under supervision. Denchai Sorakit, chief of public health in Nakhon Phanom, said the two suspected patients were boys, both aged 14. He said initial tests showed they did not have avian influenza.


''Blood samples of the patients were sent to a medical science centre in Ubon Ratchathani and the results are expected in hours,'' said Dr Denchai.


The Public Health Ministry yesterday gave a provincial breakdown of the 80 patients suspected of having bird flu. Phichit has the highest number of suspected cases with 18, followed by Sukhothai, 14; Phitsanulok and Suphan Buri, nine each; Nan, seven; Nakhon Sawan, four; Phetchabun and Uttaradit, three each; Nakhon Pathom and Nonthaburi, two each; Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Kamphaeng Phet, Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, Prachin Buri, Lamphun and Uthai Thani one each.


Buri Ram has banned cock-fighting matches in August as a preventive measure, after mysterious poultry deaths were reported.


The province has also prohibited poultry movements.


Buri Ram Governor Yai Rojasuvanitchakorn said the ban on cock fighting could be extended if the bird flu situation does not improve.


Samroi Yod National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan has warned immigrant workers not to catch birds for eating or they could be infected with bird flu.


Thawatchai Sathiankan, chief of the national park, said migrant birds in the national park would be caught and tested for bird flu.


In Phangnga, livestock officials yesterday sprayed disinfectant on chicken farms and in households where chickens were raised.


So far, there has been no outbreak of the disease in the province.


The bird flu scare has hurt Java dove raisers in the South as three neighbouring countries have suspended imports of the doves from Thailand. Prasit Disaor, owner of a dove farm in Songkhla, said Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore had suspended imports.


The Livestock Department has transferred Wannee Santamanat, chief of the Phitsanulok livestock office, to the Suphan Buri office after claims her office did not do enough to contain bird flu.


Residents in Wang Thong district had warned of mysterious poultry deaths, but the office said the deaths were not related to bird flu. Some residents dumped the chickens in the river, while others ate them. The province is listed as a bird flu alert area
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/31Jul2006_news01.php

[Johno8080]

Scary....i know it wont happen and it would probly crash the world, but if this really did spread i would say shut every country, and send non residents home!