Published Date: 2004-01-05 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza - Thailand: RFI
Archive Number: 20040105.0051

AVIAN INFLUENZA - THAILAND: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
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Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2004
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Malaysia Star, 5 Jan 2004 [edited]
<http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/1/5/nation/7036583&sec=nation>

Penang farmers fear smuggled Thai chicks may spread bird flu
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The Penang Poultry Farmers Association has voiced concerns about the
possibility of live chicken smuggled from Thailand being infected with the
bird flu.
Although the association does not import such chicken from Thailand, the
smuggling was quite rampant, said association broiler unit head Ang Pun
Heng. "I am worried that the virus could have infected these smuggled
chicks," he said.
He was commenting on a report yesterday that the Terengganu Livestock
Breeders Association had urged the state Veterinary Services Department to
control the entry of chicken from Thailand, following the detection of a
virus that causes avian influenza among birds in that country. The virus
can be devastating for poultry, and in rare cases it can be deadly to humans.
Ang said the smuggling of live chicks was compounded by cheaper chicken
prices in Thailand compared to Malaysia. He appealed to the Customs
Department to be more stringent when carrying out checks to curtail the
smuggling of live chicks.
On another matter, Ang said there would be enough chickens during the
coming Chinese New Year. However, he said consumers might have to pay
slightly more, as the price of chicken feed had increased since 2003.
--
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
[According to OIE statistics, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has
never been recorded in Thailand (last report dates Sep 2003). The above
news item might reflect conflicting commercial interests rather than
reliable first-hand information on the detection or suspicion of avian
influenza in Thailand. This item is hence posted as a request, directed at
any informed person or organization in Thailand, who are kindly invited to
confirm or refute the published alleged "detection of a virus that causes
avian influenza among birds in that country". - Mod.AS]

See Also

2003
----
Avian influenza - China (Hong Kong): OIE 20030120.0186
Avian influenza - China (Hong Kong): OIE (02) 20030126.0236
Avian influenza - Indonesia: RFI 20031119.2872
Avian influenza - South Korea (02): OIE 20031213.3049
Avian influenza - South Korea (03): confirmed 20031216.3070
....................mpp/arn/pg/mpp

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