2 replies to this topic

[george]

Thailand re-launches two-month bird flu monitoring

BANGKOK: -- Despite an absence of any new bird flu cases being reported during a just ended monitoring of the potentially deadly disease, concerned Thai government officials have decided to extend the monitoring period for another two months, retroactive to May 1, a ranking official said Saturday.

Veterinarian Sakchai Sriboonsue, director-general of the Livestock Development Department, said his agency had asked every province nationwide believed to be risk-prone to the virus to organise a week-long campaign on monitoring and destroying avian influenza and other varieties of influenza between May 1 and June 30.

No new victims of the virus were identified during the 90-day observation of the disease, which ended April 25, he said.

But the extension of monitoring the disease was made due to changes in weather as a number of provinces are experiencing heavy rains, Mr. Sakchai said, which may yet lead to further outbreaks.

Spraying insecticide in at-risk areas is necessary ckearid of the disease, said Mr. Sakchai.

The spraying will focus on poultry farms, slaughterhouses and natural wild bird habitats, he added.

--TNA 2008-05-03

[anangwaps]

Human infection is still very rare, but the virus that causes the infection in birds might change, or mutate, to more easily infect humans. This could lead to a pandemic, or a worldwide outbreak of the illness.

During an outbreak of bird flu, people who have contact with infected birds can become sick. It may also be possible to catch bird flu by eating poultry that is not well cooked or through contact with a person who has it. Bird flu can make people very sick or even cause death. There is currently no vaccine.

H5N1 avian influenza (AI) continues to cause significant economic losses and human deaths in  The more significant threat remains the possible occurrence of a worldwide influenza pandemic if the virus mutates and becomes easily transmissible among humans. The increased speed and volume of cross-border trade and travel brought about by increased economic and social integration in the region has also increased the risks and the spread of communicable diseases, and Asia is still considered the epicenter of AI. As communicable diseases do not respect borders, the problem requires a coordinated response at all levels and a health systems strengthening approach to help prevent and control not only AI, but other communicable diseases as well.
Birds, just like people, get the flu. Bird flu viruses infect birds, including chickens, other poultry and wild birds such as ducks. Most bird flu viruses can only infect other birds. However, bird flu can pose health risks to people. The first case of a bird flu virus infecting a person directly, H5N1, was in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then, the bird flu virus has spread to birds in countries in Asia, Africa and Europe.
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[disgruntled]

I have a shabby pidgeon warming itself in my air-con exhaust. Not sure if he is just old, but his bill and ear areas look a bit like they have problems. Probably just an old geezer. Just made me think of this forgotten topic. I wonder if this will ever come back like in the past? Now the geezer is doing a cleaning with his free hairdryer.