Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Thai Border Officials Beef Up Measures Against Bird Flu

SA KAEO, Thailand, Sept 5 (Bernama) -- Authorities in Sa Kaeo Province have tightened border control measures along the Thai-Cambodian border to prevent poultry smuggling following a World Health Organization report of bird flu outbreaks in Cambodia.

On Monday, head of a local quarantine office Wibul Srimankhongtham, in cooperation with paramilitary rangers of the Burapha Task Force, carried out an inspection on the Aranyaprathet border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo province, reports Thai News Agency (TNA).

Speaking to reporters, Wibul said the Livestock Development Department had instructed his office to maintain strict control measures to fend off avian influenza viruses, especially the new strain that has killed some eight Cambodian people so far this year, according to the WHO report.


Wibul also said the growing number of fowl carcasses in Banteay Meanchey province, opposite Thailand's Aranyaprathet district, had raised concerns over the possible spread of the virus.

He noted although there had been no bird flu patients in Thailand over the past five years, the disease could reemerge.

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