Thailand is on high alert after outbreaks of the lethal H5N1 bird flu have been reported in Africa, Europe and Malaysia, a health department official said here Thursday.

Kamnuan Ungchusak, director-general of the Department of Disease Control, said that the Thai government will launch a campaign to encourage tourists and Thai citizens who have traveled abroad to report to hospital within 10 days of arriving in Thailand if they have a fever and symptoms of respiratory diseases.

The campaign aims to detect the disease in its early stage when it can be cured, he said.

Kamnuan said leaflets describing bird-flu symptoms will be distributed at international arrival terminals in airport.

Source: Xinhua