Thailand reports bird flu victim
September 26th, 2006
Thailand has reported its third bird flu victim this year. A 59 year old farmer living in the country’s north-east died on the 10th of August, in a region near the Lao border. A senior health ministry official declared that it is believed he had been in contact with sick poultry just before falling ill. Laboratory tests on samples taken from the man were completed only last week, giving for a late discovery of the case. Thailand has recorded 17 bird flu deaths since 2004 and although its initial response to the disease was believed to be slow and inefficient, the country is now praised by international authorities as being one of the best prepared to combat the highly deadly virus.