Situation on bird flu pandemic improves in Thailand

The situation on the avian influenza pandemic in Thailand has improved in terms of the spread of the disease and the number of patients, a senior public health official said.

Dr. Charal Trinvuthipong, director of the government's command center on bird flu, was quoted by the Thai News Agency as saying Thursday that he had monitored and assessed the situation on the avian flu during Nov. 1-9.

He found that the situation had improved since state agencies concerned were instructed to take strict measures to curb the bird flu outbreak.

He said the Public Health Ministry had increased inspection activities in surveillance areas by six times since Oct. 10, and had not found any victim of the disease.

Dr. Charal disclosed that the number of poultry found infected with the bird flu had appeared to decline.

Last week, the disease was found spread in 91 spots. One more spot was found Tuesday in the country's central province of Chai Nat, where the bird flu had previously broken out.

No birds dwelling naturally had been reported ill, or died unusually in recent weeks, he said.

Source: Xinhua