BANGKOK, 8 July 2004 — Thailand yesterday became the latest country in Asia confirmed to have bird flu, sparking fears of a resurgence of the winter outbreak that left 24 people dead and devastated the region’s poultry industry.
Officials confirmed a case of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus at a farm in central Thailand, which followed new cases of bird flu in China and Vietnam. The three countries were among the worst hit of the 10 nations affected by the winter bird flu outbreak.
The new case in Thailand has added to the fears of a fresh economic setback despite attempts by officials to play down the threat of a widespread epidemic.
The mass culling and import bans from other countries — including a fresh poultry ban extended by the EU last week until December — had a devastating effect on businesses in the region during the outbreak earlier this year. Thai officials said the rest of a 44,000-strong flock at the farm in central Ayutthaya province had been culled after 7,000 died in the last fortnight from disease.
