Pepper
12-01-2004, 12:59 PM
Bird flu mutation prevented, says govt
BANGKOK, Dec 1 (TNA) – The government says its system of local measures has successfully prevented the bird flu virus from mutating into a more deadly strain, according to the chief of the national bird flu operational centre, Dr Charal Trinvuthipong.
Thailand has drawn up a national plan to wipe out the disease in the country and is closely cooperating with neighbouring countries in exchanging information, Dr. Charal said.
The Public Health Ministry and the livestock department have created a nation-wide network to monitor and manage the situation in order to control bird flu outbreaks.
The scheme, though, has not worked as expected because villagers deliberately hid information on dead fowls for fear that all of their chickens and ducks would be destroyed, said Dr. Charal.
The government has urged Thais to cooperate with the scheme to help prevent the virus from mutating into a strain that could be contracted by humans.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that, if mutated, bird flu could kill up to 50-100 million people, as it could then spread among humans.
Dr. Charal affirmed, however, that the Thai government had already included measures to prevent, and even cope with, the avian flu mutation in its national plan, as advised by the WHO.
Meanwhile, provincial authorities in the country's northern province of Chiang Mai have destroyed more than 3,000 fowls in three remote villages of Chom Tong district after officials reported the mysterious death of chickens raised by villagers in the area.
Later this month, the Chiang Mai authorities and cock-fighting ring owners will discuss the reopening of the rings and measures to prevent indigenous fighting cocks spreading the disease. (TNA)--E112, E002
http://www.mcot.org/print.php?nid=33386
BANGKOK, Dec 1 (TNA) – The government says its system of local measures has successfully prevented the bird flu virus from mutating into a more deadly strain, according to the chief of the national bird flu operational centre, Dr Charal Trinvuthipong.
Thailand has drawn up a national plan to wipe out the disease in the country and is closely cooperating with neighbouring countries in exchanging information, Dr. Charal said.
The Public Health Ministry and the livestock department have created a nation-wide network to monitor and manage the situation in order to control bird flu outbreaks.
The scheme, though, has not worked as expected because villagers deliberately hid information on dead fowls for fear that all of their chickens and ducks would be destroyed, said Dr. Charal.
The government has urged Thais to cooperate with the scheme to help prevent the virus from mutating into a strain that could be contracted by humans.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that, if mutated, bird flu could kill up to 50-100 million people, as it could then spread among humans.
Dr. Charal affirmed, however, that the Thai government had already included measures to prevent, and even cope with, the avian flu mutation in its national plan, as advised by the WHO.
Meanwhile, provincial authorities in the country's northern province of Chiang Mai have destroyed more than 3,000 fowls in three remote villages of Chom Tong district after officials reported the mysterious death of chickens raised by villagers in the area.
Later this month, the Chiang Mai authorities and cock-fighting ring owners will discuss the reopening of the rings and measures to prevent indigenous fighting cocks spreading the disease. (TNA)--E112, E002
http://www.mcot.org/print.php?nid=33386