Thailand To Showcase Bird Flu Success At APEC Meeting
Bernama, 5 May 2006

BANGKOK, May 5 (Bernama) -- Thailand will showcase its success in containing bird flu outbreak and also pushing for the production of bird flu vaccine for regional use at the APEC Ministerial meeting on avian and pandemic influenza May 4-6 in Danang, Vietnam, Thai Vice Minister for Public Health Vachara Phanchet said Thursday.

The Thai News Agency (TNA) quoted him as saying that Thailand was asked to present to the 21-member country Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting the progress of its programme to contain the outbreak of the avian influenza virus H5N1, or bird flu, as it is internationally recognized for its success in fighting the disease.

There have been no reports of new patients infected with bird flu in Thailand since early this year.

Even Australia has asked Thailand to

help provide training for other countries in the region concerning bird flu containment, the vice minister said.

Dr Vachara and other officials of the public health ministry would explain to APEC delegates the measures Thailand has taken against the disease including progress in developing a mechanism to prevent the spread of bird from human to human.

In addition, he said the Thai delegates would also push for cooperation among country members to develop and produce bird flu vaccine for their own use in the region.

Citing World Health Organization (WHO) figures, Dr Narongsak Aungkhasuvapala, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health said 205 persons in nine countries worldwide have been reported infected with bird flu and 113 of this number died since December 2003.
 

A total of 165 patients, including 92 deaths, were in four APEC member countries including China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

There have been reports of poultry being infected with the H5N1 virus in nine APEC countries including China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand and Vietnam.

In Thailand, he said, beginning from December 2003 until May 2, 2006, 22 persons have been infected and 14 have died.

No new patient has been reported since Dec 5, 2005 when Thailand's latest case succumbed to the virus.-- BERNAMA