Thailand's bird flu prevention measures meet international standard and the public need not worry about the situation, said Thai Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla.

In the government's weekly radio program on Saturday, Mongkol reaffirmed that bird flu virus had only been found in poultry and no human cases had been reported so far, according to Thai News Agency.

Thailand's Department of Livestock Development confirmed Thursday that it found the H5N1 virus in samples of fighting cocks and native chickens in the central province of Ang Thong, the third case of bird flu outbreak detected this year after Phitsanulok Province in the northern and northeastern border province Nong Khai.

Mongkol said that the situation was not worrisome, as the government was on high alert and kept tight monitoring.

"There are more than 800,000 public health volunteers as well as ministry officials who are on duty nationwide. If there are any patients whose symptoms raise suspicions, they can respond properly and promptly to find out whether the patient is a bird flu virus victim or not," Mongkol said.

The minister urged the public to have confidence in the government's readiness and stay calm, while keep a healthy lifestyle with proper diets, enough sleep and regular exercise.

"There is no need for (public to have) influenza vaccine injections as a precaution as it could be a waste of money,"

Mongkol also said.

He added that the government's measures to prevent bird flu meet international standards and even serve as a model for many other countries dealing with the same problem.

People should also observe the ministry guidelines to prevent bird flu, including avoiding touching dead poultry and informing local authorities or Livestock Development Department officials when poultry dies suspiciously, the minister said.

Source: Xinhua