Livestock Development Department steps up measures to tackle bird flu during winter

Director-General of the Livestock Development Department, Sakchai Sriboonsue (ศักดิ์ชัย ศรีบุญซื่อ), reports that the department has imposed stringent measures to track bird flu spread during winter to prevent the pandemic’s impacts on the economy.

Mr Sakchai says although the bird flu situation in Thailand has much improved, the department has decided to step up measures to tackle the virus which spreads more easily during winter. As for migrating birds, the department has cooperated with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to monitor the birds and outline preventive measures.

The director-general also expresses concerns over the lower Northern region, including the provinces of Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, and Phichit, as there are a number of open-range duck farms in the areas.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 29 November 2007

New bird flu outbreak found in Nakhon Sawan

A bird flu outbreak is found at a farm in Nakhon Sawan province, Livestock department said on Wednesday.

Livestock officials rushed to Sri Thai Farm in Chumsaeng district which housed 14,000 chickens.

All chickens would be culled and examined.

Source: The Nation - 24 January 2008

H5N1 virus found in Nakorn Sawan

Livestock official of Nakorn Sawan province Somboon Srisuthep (สมบูรณ์ ศรีสุเทพ) revealed that hundreds of chickens in Choomsaeng (ชุมแสง) district’s chicken farming area have been discovered carrying the H5N1 avian influenza virus.

The chicken farming area contains over 60 thousand chickens divided into 4 buildings, each housing around 15 thousand fowls. The infected chickens were all found in the second building after tests were conducted when many of the chickens started to die. Samples from the farm were sent to be confirmed in the Northern regions research headquarters.

The province has ordered the quarantining of the area and also the destruction of, and sanitation of many chickens from the farms. A warning has also been issued to surrounding poultry farmers to be aware of the travel of the disease as well as the ordering of a ban on transportation of all avian animals from the province.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 24 January 2008