Thailand confirms two people caught bird flu

Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 23 Jan 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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The Thai government today has confirmed that two people have contracted bird flu.

The European Union is on the verge of banning all fresh chicken imports from Thailand.
v According to the Thai Health Minister, Sudarat Keyuraphun, two boys who had touched infected chicken carcasses tested positive (for bird flu).

Bird flu, which has devastated many Asian flocks (of chicken) has (so far) only jumped to humans in about half-a-dozen cases.

The World Health Organisation (Organization) has said that it is gravely concerned that the virus could mutate and become more dangerous.
Both the boys (who caught bird flu in Thailand) lived near chicken farms with infected birds.

The minister said that two cases of bird flu have been confirmed in one boy in Suphanburi, and one boy in Kanchanaburi province.

A third case had proved negative. There are still two more cases that have not been confirmed yet.

Japan has already stopped imports of Thai fresh chicken. The European Union will probably do the same today (or tomorrow).

Thailand is one of the largest chicken exporters in the world. The majority of Thailand's chickens go to Japan and the European Union. Thailand exports $1.3bn worth of chickens a year.

WHO spokesman Bob Dietz, speaking in Vietnam, said that the bird flu virus could become more of a threat to humans as it spreads.

'The more widespread it becomes the more chance there is that it could alter its form,' said Mr Dietz.

'It is impossible to predict a time or date for this, but there are mounting opportunities for the virus to alter its form and begin affecting the human population.'

The Lancet medical journal also issued a dire warning on Friday.

In an editorial, it said standard vaccines would be useless against the virus if it started spreading through humans.

At present, there is no evidence to suggest it can be passed on from one person to another.

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