MOPH orders hospitals near Thai-Cambodian border to beware of bird flu
BANGKOK, 1 March 2011 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has instructed hospitals in areas near the border with Cambodia to be on alert for bird flu cases after the disease recently killed three people in the neighboring country.
In response to the World Health Organization’s report recently issued on the avian influenza situation, which indicated three new fatalities in Cambodia, Permanent Secretary for Public Health Paijit Warachit confirmed that no infection had been found within Thailand lately. However, he said all hospitals in provinces along the Thai-Cambodian border had been informed to step up their monitoring of the disease.
Any patients with symptoms of pneumonia are to be questioned whether they have been in close proximity to poultry or have consumed their meat or eggs that are undercooked. In a bid to stave off bird flu recurrence in Thailand, the Public Health Ministry has assigned village health volunteers and village heads nationwide to keep their eyes on fowls in their areas and report any unusual illnesses or deaths among the animals to the local livestock officials immediately upon discovery.
Members of the public are encouraged to avoid touching dead poultry directly, wash their hands habitually and consult doctors if experiencing high fever, headache and coughing for longer than two days.
Since 2003, avian influenza has claimed 310 lives in 15 countries, including Thailand, with a total of 525 infected patients.
News ID: 255403010019
Reporter : Surapan Laotharanarit
News Date : 01 March 2011
Credit: NNT (thainews.prd.go.th)
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