More Bird Flu in Wild Birds in Thailand
Recombinomics Commentary
February 4, 2005
>> He said between 18 January and 3 February, almost 500 open-billed storks had been found dead at the Boraphet reservoir, Thailand's largest freshwater swamp……..
In other control efforts, the director said more than 6,800 birds from 80 species in seven provinces had been tested for the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus. The result of the tests will be disclosed soon.
However, he said testing by other agencies had found the bird flu virus in 11 samples collected from four central provinces, including Sukhothai, Uthai Thani, Lopburi, and Chachoengsao <<
The finding of additional H5N1 positive wild birds in Thailand is cause for concern. An earlier report found positives in additional species (Little Cormorant, Asian Openbill, Scaly-breasted Munia (Spotted Munia), Red Turtle-Dove, Black Drongo and pigeon) in Nakhon Sawan, Lop Buri, Chachoengsao and Saraburi.
Thus, there is some geographical overlap, but it seems that the more the wild birds are tested, the more positives that are identified.
The results support earlier observations that H5N1 has become endemic to the area, and will make control difficult.
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