Thailand still flu free

No new cases of bird flu have been identified in Thailand since early this year, according to Thailand's Minister of Public Health. He says that the recent cases of illness found in Sukhothai were a normal human strain of influenza.

Minister Pinij Jarusombat cautioned, however, that there was no room for complacency. Thailand remains vigilant against the spread of avian influenza, through the health ministry's strategic plan which includes an education and prevention campaign.

The campaign against has proved effective as Thailand witnessed no new cases this year.

Results of laboratory tests show that the two people that were recently ill - a 10-year old boy and a three-year-old girl in Sukhothai - were not infected with H5N1 virus but tested positive for a normal human strain of influenza.

Expressing concern about possible animal-to-human transmission of the H5N1 virus, the public health minister assured the public that the ministry will pull out all the stops to ensure the effectiveness of surveillance network and anti-bird flu campaign through its provincial machanism, " Mr Bird Flu", a team of regional bird flu representatives.

Editor WorldPoultry