The Thai Ministry of Public Healthissued a package of six measures to help prevent cases of bird fluamong humans, while warning of the dangers of contracting the virus from chicken droppings, reported the Thai News Agency Thursday.

Under the six-point plan, announced Wednesday by Deputy Public Health Minister Suchai Charoenrattanachai, volunteers will be asked to knock on the houses of anyone with a fever who has a history of contact with poultry, with volunteers required to measure their temperature every seven days.

Anyone who falls into this category and who fails to honor their hospital appointment will be visited repeatedly by volunteerworkers.

Patients on the bird flu suspect list, meanwhile, will be sent to hospitals which specialize in respiratory conditions.

The ministry will also ensure that community hospitals and medical centers have adequate supplies of the anti-viral drug Tamiflu, and that the drug is administered to patients as soon as possible after diagnosis of flu.

Volunteers will receive extra training in order that they can take the message of precaution to the public in a way that is easyto understand.

Suchai expressed confidence that these measures would help bring avian flu under control.

Meanwhile, Vichai Tienthavon, the Permanent Secretary for Public Health, warned that avian flu could be contracted through contact with infected faeces, pointing to the recent death of a 14year-old girl who had not had direct contact with chickens, but whose house was surrounded by chicken droppings.

Source: Xinhua