Bangkok: Bird flu alert after poultry deaths [Nakhorn Ratchasima]

[hawkeye]

Bird flu alert after poultry deaths

NAKHON RATCHASIMA - Thailand's Northeast is on alert for possible outbreaks of avian influenza after poultry were found dead from unknown causes in the region, regional officials said Thursday.

However, the authorities stressed, no bird flu case has been confirmed

Regional Office of Animal Heath and Sanitation 3 director Suwudhi Chalejorn, who oversees the nine provinces in Thailand's northeast, said poultry found dead in five of seven provinces have already tested negative, but lab results are not yet available for nine dead birds from Surin and one from Yasothon.

The poultry deaths alerted local animal husbandry officials to boost prevention measures against possible outbreaks of bird flu in all provinces under supervision of the regional office, he said.

Dr. Samroeng Yaengkratok, head of Nakhon Ratchasima provincial public health office said that during the first six months of 2006 no patients in the northeast were reported as infected with bird flu. (TNA)

[Sharpe]

Re: Bangkok: Bird flu alert after poultry deaths

It is clear that bird flu has returned to Thailand, regardless of their tests being reported correctly or not, and that it has returned in a very big way in the last 3 weeks. I am aware of 10 provinces experiencing outbreaks at present. That may be a gross underestimate of the extent of the spread however--I mean I'm just using three English-language reports. It is very concerning that Thailand is not acknowledging it's huge problems and beginning massive culling. Denial is VERY DANGEROUS--as it allows huge numbers of poultry and wild animals who eat them, etc., to become infected and therefore vast opportunities to mutate, recombine and reassort. The human cost is also vast. Additionally, the number of reports I am seeing of deaths and sicknesses of children in Thailand has really grown quickly over the last few weeks. One small village alone had 4 children die last week--they blamed it on the very rare Enterovirus 71 (because it's one of the only non-hemorrhagic fever viruses that results in encephalitis, heart damage, and bleeding from the mouth). The number of reported Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever-caused deaths is also rising rapidly. All these are very concerning when put together in light of the large poultry deaths occurring in the area.

[Sharpe]

Re: Bangkok: Bird flu alert after poultry deaths

With this latest report, one can now add the southwestern part of Thailand to the northcentral and southeastern parts as experiencing large-scale, widespread poultry deaths.

http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=179500

<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="95%"> <tbody><tr><td>Poultry found dead in Ratchaburi</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#b5cfe7"> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right"> Option >> </td> </tr> <tr> <td>
The Department of Livestock in Ratchaburi (ราชบุรี) province said it has taken blood samples from chickens from 30 districts in 8 provinces to the laboratory after a number of chickens have been found dead.

However, the department said that the lab results show no sign of the H5N1 strain. The department also explained that the avian flu and other diseases manifest most during the rainy season where high temperatures stimulate the growth.

During such time, animals such as pigs, goats, chickens and ducks are vulnerable to such diseases. The department suggests that farmers should check their animals? health regularly and report to the department should they find any suspicious death on their farms.
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[sharon sanders]

Re: Bangkok: Bird flu alert after poultry deaths

Possible Human H5N1 illness

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...ed=1#post20579