Bird Flu in Thailand Near Tsunami Regions
Recombinomics Commentary
January 21, 2005
The latest OIE report from Thailand identifies two new H5N1 bird flu outbreaks in the northern Phitsanulok Province. The report uses new forms which are quite detailed. They include contact information. Province, District, Village, latitude / longitude coordinates, and start date of outbreak. The added detail in the new report forms is welcome and allows for more informative monitoring of the H5N1 avian influenza pandemic.
The latest report indicates the Bangkratum District outbreak began Jan 5, 2005 and 3 of 50 birds died. The Muang District outbreak began Jan 17, 2005 and all 50 birds died.
The outbreaks are distinct from the Jan 14, 2005 report of 10 of 40 poultry deaths in the eastern Rayong Province or the Jan 7, 2005 report on the multiple outbreaks in Phitsunulok and Nakhon Swan Provinces or the second Jan 7, 2005 report on outbreaks in Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Phisanu Lok, and Suphan Buri Provinces.
These reports mirror the explosion of H5N1 poultry infections in Vietnam and raise serious questions about the number of outbreaks in neighboring countries and tsunami hit areas in Thailand, Mayanmar, and Indonesia, which had reported H5N1 outbreaks on October, 2004.