Thailand - 7/14+

[hawkeye]

I figured I'd start a Thailand: Bangkok thread since it appears we'll be getting more and more news reports out that area:

Public Health Ministry rules out bird flu in Phichit

BANGKOK, July 14 (TNA) ? The Public Health Ministry Friday ruled out bird flu epidemic in the northern province of Phichit.

It confirmed that the three patients who were earlier suspected of having bird flu were suffering from influenza.

Dr Prat Boonyawongwirot, Permanent Secretary for Public Health, said the latest lab test confirmed that the three patients-- a woman and two children-- were clean from bird flu and were discharged from
quarantine.

Paijit Warachit, Director General of the Medical Science Department, said the lab test did not find viral mutation and there was no drug resistance.

The department will soon launch two mobile laboratories to conduct lab test in remote areas, he added.
Each mobile laboratory, costing 15 million baht, will help the detection of bird flu, HIV, dengue viruses.

The service, due to start in August, can provide lab tests for neighbouring countries if requested.(TNA)-E004

[Theresa42]

Ministry of Agriculture announces 7 provinces to be on alert for bf

Machine-translated from Thai:

Ministry of Agriculture announce 7 province district watch out for bird flu
By manager on line 14 July 2549 (2006)

Lady [name] act for minister in charge of Ministry of Agriculture said that from task district search virus bird flu from month June until present gather sample poultry much already 48,400 sample also not find virus bird flu anyway when animal sick die from task report of authority livestock nationwide find poultry sick die increase some district in some province expect that should be from task change of climate influence offer virus various kinds grow/prosper thereby Ministry of Agriculture therefore announce to districts 7 province feature province Uttaradit, Sukothai, Phichit, Phisanulok, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi mainly place keep an eye on be vigilant special even district as [?] will also not find virus bird flu at present at the same time province Uttaradit, Sukhothai and Phitsanulok existent province that there is quantity rain continually more than 1 month therefore must keep an eye on be careful specially because task announce prohibit transfer poultry that lose life everywhere.

Act for minister be in charge Ministry of Agriculture say because at present Thailand sterile bird flu come already more than 250 days at the same time give minister [name] Thailand director general Department of Livestock share district keep an eye on be careful special all 7 provinces go out is 3 areas divide is the North part lower district, center part on and part center some province in order that control district piece of as strict continually but budget solve bird flu that obtain approve already more than 196 million baht which also cannot receive task announce distribute will join Bureau of the Budget in order that hasten introduce disburse budget for this to suddenly most.

http://tinyurl.com/ehvkj

[hawkeye]

Re: Thailand: Bangkok (7/14)

Thailand puts 7 provinces on bird flu watch list

ANGKOK, July 15 (Reuters) - Thailand has stepped up bird flu surveillance in seven provinces for the hot, monsoon season when the virus could re-emerge, a senior government official said on Saturday.

"July is a risky month. Over the past two years the outbreak started this month," Yukol Limlaemthong, head of the Livestock Department, told Reuters.

He said four northern provinces -- Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and Pichit -- would be closely monitored for outbreaks of the H5N1 virus, which has killed 14 Thais since it emerged in late 2003.

"They are risky areas because of flooding and the rainy season. This situation is good for the virus to grow. We have not found the virus, but we want people to be alert," Yukol said.

Three provinces where outbreaks have occured in the past two years -- Suphan Buri and Kanchanaburi in the west and Nakhon Pathom near the capital, Bangkok -- were also on the watch list.

Thailand was slow to respond to the disease when it began ravaging poultry flocks in late 2003, but it now has one of the strongest surveillance systems in the region.

Thailand has not had a human death since December 2005 and no new outbreaks among poultry for about 8 months.

However, a recent incident where Thai villagers ignored government warnings and handled and ate chickens that died mysteriously has raised fears that public vigilance against the disease is waning.

The global human death toll now stands at 132 after Indonesian officials said on Friday a three-year-old girl who died this month had tested positive for the virus.

Experts fear the avian influenza virus could spark a human pandemic if it mutates into a form that can pass easily among people.

[sharon sanders]

Re: Thailand: Bangkok (7/14)

also reference this excellent thread:

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...affie+thailand

[hawkeye]

Re: Thailand: Bangkok (7/14)

Phichit chickens died of cholera not birdflu: govt

A widespread rumour that the deadly H5N1 virus was found in Phichit has been denied by both the Agriculture and Public Health ministries.

Pinij Charusombat, caretaker Public Health Minister, said yesฌterday there were no new birdflu infections - and no coverup, as many feared.

"We never cover up cases since it would damage our national health security, which has been appreciated by the international community," he said.

Pinij said if new cases were found he would report them to the Thai public, international comฌmunity and the World Health Organisation (WHO). He insisted that since there has been no new cases of humans infected since December 7, last year.

The Department of Livestock Development has admitted many chickens died mysteriously in the northern provinces, particularly in Phichit.

However, Pornchai Chamnanpood, director of National Institute of Animal Health, said the laboratory tests on the dead chickens showed all were caused by cholera. This year, more than 53,000 dead chickens have been sent to the institute for lab tests.

"It sounds so many, but the death of chickens raised in backฌyards is not something to wonder to. That environment is not as hygienic as in commercial farms - it is easy for chickens to get sick and die," he said.

Dr Nirund Pitakwatchara, an incumbent senator, said last week he believed the country has been hit by a new round of the deadly virus. His assumption was based on the mysterious deaths of chicken in Phichit and three patients suspected to have caught bird flu.

[Sharpe]

Re: Thailand: Bangkok (7/14)

"We never cover up cases since it would damage our national health security, which has been appreciated by the international community," he said.

That is the saddest statement I've ever seen. "never"? They should look back at their H5N1 history again. Damage their national health security, huh? Well, good for them--it's a good thing that they're protecting their national health security....

[Siamese]

Re: Thailand: Bangkok (7/14)

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2>Two more suspected bird flu cases in Phichit
PHICHIT, July 19 (TNA) - Health authorities in the lower northern province of Phichit hospitalised two young sisters earlier this week after they developed bird flu-like symptoms, provincial officials said Wednesday.

The two suspected cases are sisters aged three and four years old, according to doctors who sent the children's blood samples to a laboratory for testing. Test results were to be known on Thursday.

The two sisters were sent to the Phichit Provincial Hospital from the Ta Pan Hin District Hospital after they developed bird flu-like symptoms including a high fever and cough.

Many poultry in their home village sickened and died of unknown causes before the girls themselves became sick.

Medical doctors at the Phichit Provincial Hospital sent the sisters' blood samples to the provincial Medical Sciences Centre for testing and the results are expected to be known on Thursday.

The two girls are now quarantined and their symptoms are being monitored.

Meanwhile, in order to stop the possible spread of bird flu from the diseased birds, provincial livestock officials buried about one hundred domestic chickens which died of unknown causes and disinfectant
was sprayed around the burial sites. (TNA)-E003

http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=23453</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[Theresa42]

BF warning from public health officials in Khon Kaen province

Public health officials in another Thai province, Khon Kaen, have issued a health warning advising citizens to be vigilant about bf and to keep an eye out for symptoms in poultry and themselves. (Sorry -- didn't translate the whole article -- it's long but appears to be a fairly standard warning. The machine-translator requires word-by-word transcription, which is a bit tedious.... )

Machine-translated from Thai:

Public health province Khon Kaen warns bird flu - The Secretariat of the Senate Khon Kaen
July 19, 2006

Office public health province Khon Kaen ask inform public relations to people there is task look after health self to be safe from bird flu that could return spread again especially in period point rainy season start winter Mr. [name] doctor public health province Khon Kaen disclose that at present bird flu still to stay in task watch be careful against task spread of disease in area of Thailand which regard problem high level country and awareness be quiet start about task look after health ....

http://region1.prd.go.th/localnews/detail_localnews.php?id=46788

Khon Kaen province is in the northeast of the country:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khon_Kaen_province

[Sharpe]

Re: Thailand: Bangkok (7/14)

Slightly more info on the girls.

http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Avian_Flu_Numbers_Increase_Across_SE_Asia_999.html

Avian Flu Numbers Increase Across SE Asia

It has been more than six months since Thailand saw a human death from avian influenza, and prior to the current suspected infections in Phichit it was believed the Southeast Asian country's bird-flu surveillance program was one of the most effective in the region.
by Kate Walker
Le Bugue, France (UPI) Jul 20, 2006

Thai authorities have announced two suspected cases of avian-influenza infection in a pair of sisters hospitalized earlier this week, local media has reported.

The sisters, from the northern province of Phichit, were hospitalized after displaying symptoms similar to those seen in bird-flu sufferers, local health authorities told the Thai media.

Local test results from the two sisters, who are 3 and 4 years old, are expected to be returned Thursday, before which time no firm diagnosis can be made. Once the local test results have been returned, however, they must be confirmed by an official World Health Organization laboratory before an official statement regarding new human cases can be made.

The girls were initially sent to Ta Pan Hin District Hospital after developing flu-like symptoms, including respiratory difficulties above those associated with seasonal influenza, shortly after a number of local birds died of unknown causes. They were then moved to Phichit Provincial Hospital for additional care, where they have been placed under quarantine and their symptoms monitored for signs of deterioration.

--

Also in Thailand, health authorities across the country are preparing themselves for a possible resurgence in avian-influenza infections as a result of the imminent monsoon season.

The health authorities have placed three provinces -- western Suphan Buri and Kanchanaburi, and Nakhon Pathom, near Bangkok -- on special alert, as all have suffered outbreaks within the past two years. The northern provinces of Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok and Phichit have also been designated as worthy of special monitoring.

It has been more than six months since Thailand saw a human death from avian influenza, and prior to the current suspected infections in Phichit it was believed the Southeast Asian country's bird-flu surveillance program was one of the most effective in the region.

--

Azerbaijan is bracing itself for a fall resurgence in avian-influenza outbreaks, ever mindful of its position on the migratory flight paths that many believe place it at greater risk of increased poultry infections.

Having earlier seen human cases of H5N1 infection and a number of deaths from the disease, the country, with the assistance of the WHO, is increasing its efforts to stem the spread of the virus by better educating its healthcare workers.

The WHO office in Azerbaijan is preparing a range of recommendations for better health and hygiene practices designed to stem the spread of many communicable diseases -- with a particular view to avian influenza -- which will be distributed, free of charge, to healthcare workers across the country.

Hungarian poultry farmers have been pressing the government to compensate them for birds lost in the battle to halt the spread of avian influenza, which first arrived in the country in early June, affecting farms near Kiskunmajsa in the southern part of the country.

Around 100 farmers gathered in front of the Agriculture Ministry Tuesday demanding increased compensation more in line with their losses, bbj.hu news agency reported on its Web site.

Agriculture Minister J?zsef Gr?f was presented with a petition by Magosz, the Hungarian farmers' association, requesting that he authorize an official assessment of the impact -- financial and otherwise -- of avian influenza on the Hungarian poultry industry. Once an assessment is complete, Magosz claims, the government will be in a better position to support what bbj.hu called the "ailing poultry industry."

Following the initial bird-flu outbreak approximately 500,000 local birds were culled to prevent the spread of the disease, a necessary measure that nonetheless dealt a sharp blow to the region's poultry farmers.

Compensation offered by the government and matched by the European Union is unlikely to exceed a fraction of the lost income.

--

Following the official WHO confirmation of another avian-influenza fatality, the bird-flu death toll in Indonesia has now reached 42.

The most recent death to be confirmed following official testing in a WHO laboratory was that of a 3-year-old girl.

The World Health Organization has now confirmed 132 deaths from avian influenza worldwide since the H5N1 strain of the virus re-emerged and began to affect humans in 2003.

Source: United Press International

Related Links

[Theresa42]

Khon Kaen - suspected bf in poultry

Suspected bf in poultry - latest report from the ofc of Disease Prevention & Control in Khon Kaen:

Machine-translated from Thai:

Avian influenza in poultry 19 July 2549 (2006)

Situation bird flu in poultry sick die of district office together govern disease that date 19 July 2549 (2006) discover in district province:

1. Maha Sarakham district pond water lily district reservoir light flock 10 type poultry is duck main

2. Loei province district mouth praise round group 3 and district stream flock nine type creature discover in chicken domestic

To be at in among wait for result by laboratory

http://dpc6.ddc.moph.go.th/viewh5n1.php?s_h5n1id=482&s_page=oldh5n1

[Sharpe]

Re: Khon Kaen - suspected bf in poultry

1. Maha Sarakham district pond water lily district reservoir light flock 10 type poultry is duck main.

Well that pretty much seals it for me.

[Sharpe]

Re: Thailand - 7/14+

Also, I just wanted to clarify something that may be a little misunderstood in Theresa's translation. The article is not talking about dead chickens in Khon Kaen, though there have been some there too. The testing is occurring (or not) there. They are referring to two other provinces--Mahasarakham and Loei. They are the blue arrows in the attached map of this region.

[Theresa42]

Re: Thailand - 7/14+

Also, I just wanted to clarify something that may be a little misunderstood in Theresa's translation. The article is not talking about dead chickens in Khon Kaen, though there have been some there too. The testing is occurring (or not) there. They are referring to two other provinces--Mahasarakham and Loei. They are the blue arrows in the attached map of this region.

That's correct -- Mahasarakham and Loei are two more provinces that border Khon Kaen province.

They are, however, covered by the Office of Disease Prevention & Control (DPC) in Khon Kaen, which is why the report came out of there.

Seven provinces altogether are covered by this DPC Office:

Nongbua Lamphu
Khon Kaen
Udan Thani
Loei
Nong Kai
Roi Et
Maha Sarakham (Mahasarakham)

http://dpc6.ddc.moph.go.th/

Their bf news page is here:

http://dpc6.ddc.moph.go.th/oldh5n1.php

[Mellie]

Re: Thailand - 7/14+

I know it's good to only present info, but could you please connect the dots for me a little either here or in a PM. Label it as thinking out loud or some such and use this but imagine mouth tipped up to the sky a bit more!

I've been busy with other things this week and am too "lame brain" to connect the dots for myself.

Thanx, Mellie

[Sharpe]

Re: Thailand - 7/14+

I will try to give a short synopsis, Mellie. Let me know if it's useful.


Timeline:

1. November 05--culling in the province of Phichit was the last time bird flu was ever reported in Thailand.
2. Mid-February 06--a bird flu scare in Kalasin Province
3. March, April 06--bird flu was confirmed in the neighboring countries of Myanmar in the northwest, Laos in the northeast, and Cambodia to the south.
4. Late June 06--the first report of dying chickens and sick exposed children in Sukhothia.
5. July 1-21 06--at least 2/3 of Thailand's provinces and most of it's tambons have been experiencing massive numbers of poultry deaths that farmers have been saying look like the bird flu outbreaks of yesteryear, as well as wild birds such as doves and waterfowl such as ducks.
6. July 1-21 06--The provinces of Nakhon Ratchasima and Phichit are reporting that they are experiencing large numbers of people being quarantined because of "bird flu symptoms", at last count 44 people total.
7. The government appears to be panicking and denying everything at the same time, while it finishes explaining to western public health experts about how it eradicated bird flu at a conference in Bangkok.