Fresh outbreak of bird flu reported in northern Thailand

Fresh outbreak of bird flu was reported in northern Thai province of Phitsanulok, the first in almost six months, provincial livestock department said on Monday.

The new outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu virus was confirmed by laboratory tests after the deaths of over 100 ducks at a farm in the province, the Bangkok-based news network The Nation reported Monday.

The provincial livestock department has ordered a slaughter of over 1,900 ducks at a farm in Phitsanulok on Monday after officials found the outbreak during a routine inspection at the farms in the province, the report said.

Methee Ketadisorn, provincial livestock chief, said that his department has put the virus spreading under control and did not find other cases in an area of five-kilometer radius from the farm, which was located in Plaichumpon Tambon (sub-district), Muang district (provincial seat).

The fresh outbreak is the first in almost six months, Methee said.

He added that it was lucky that they found the virus quickly so that they responded in time.

Thailand is among the countries hardest hit by the H5N1 avian influenza virus, recording 17 human fatalities out of 25 infected cases, since the most recent outbreak here in 2004.

Source: Xinhua