Chicken pens can contaminate flood waters

Officials disinfect flooded poultry farms to prevent bird flu

PATHUM THANI, Nov 19 (TNA) – Thailand's provincial livestock authorities countrywide have been ordered to disinfect poultry farms, especially those located in flood-hit provinces, to prevent further outbreaks of the deadly bird flu disease during this season, a senior official said Sunday.

Yukol Limlamthong, director-general of the Department of Livestock Development, said that while there have been no reported cases of new bird flu outbreaks in the past 108 days, provincial government livestock workers have been instructed to spray the disinfectants at farms, especially those in flood-hit provinces, when the floodwaters recede.

He said that concerned officials are also researching bird flu in chickens raised in open area regarding the possibility that the poultry would have sufficient immunity against the disease.

Senior officials from six countries – Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and Thailand—wrapped up a three-day meeting here last week to find ways to contain the spread of animal-borne contagious diseases and to produce more effective vaccines for domestic livestock use after countries in the region have been hit by avian influenza for the past few years.

They agreed that the first priority in preventing the disease was to lay out measures on cross-border animal transport in the region as a number of countries shared common borders.

Mr. Yukol said that follow-up talks between the six countries would now be held on a bilateral basis. Thailand met with Malaysia last month, he said, while a similar meeting will take place with Myanmar next month. (TNA)-E111