Thailand on high alert against bird flu outbreaks in Cambodia

SA KAEO, THAILAND, March 4 (TNA) - Thailand remains on high alert against bird flu, as there have been reports on outbreaks of the H5N1 virus in neighbouring Cambodia since late last month. Dr. Trisadee Chaosuancharoen, Director-General of the Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives' Department of Livestock and Development, on Monday inspected an animal quarantine station in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province in the Thai East, bordering Cambodia. Dr. Trisadee ordered relevant officials to conduct a strict monitoring to ensure that no poultry and their raw eggs are smuggled or imported from across the border. Dr. Trisadee acknowledged, however, that Thailand has been free from bird flu for four consecutive four years and his department is considering dispatching experts to assist Cambodia to contain more outbreaks of the avian flu. The intensified moves followed Cambodia's media reports that a 35-year-old Cambodian man died from the H5N1 virus in late February, the 9th fatal victim of the bird flu in the neighbouring country since early this year. (TNA)