BANGKOK, 24 June 2013 The Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives says the H7N9 virus has yet to be found in Thailand, adding that the Department of Livestock Development has been on alert of the bird flu infections.
Agriculture Minister Yukol Limlamthong said during a meeting on H7N9 situation in Asia that there has not been any report of the H7N9 virus in Thailand, and the country has been free of bird flu for more than 4 years and 7 months. In addition, China has managed to effectively control the bird flu spread in the country; therefore, there is nothing to worry about at this point as the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) has always been on alert and following up on the situation.
According to the minister, the DLD has constantly been checking for the H7N9 infection in both poultry and human in the risk-prone areas, and poultry transfers are also supervised and approved only by the DLD.
Meanwhile, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has praised Thailand for its strict measures in preventing the H7N9 virus, saying the country has a high standard and strong foundation in tackling the disease compared to other countries in this region,
