H5N1 suspicion confirmed in Thailand
July 26th, 2006
The disease that killed a flock of chickens in a northern province of Thailand has been confirmed to be caused by the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, as authorities stated. It is the country’s first such outbreak in the last eight months and the Deputy Agriculture Minister Charan Trinvuthipong told the press the country was already on alert, as vigilance needs to be exerted. Another government official told reporters that the outbreak appeared on a farm in the province of Pichit, on a flock belonging to an unregistered farm. About 260 chickens were culled in the region to prevent the avian influenza virus from spreading, while the movement of poultry was forbidden on a 10-kilometer radius from the spot. Thailand has so far suffered 14 human deaths from the virus’ first occurrences.