Random H5N1 testing of migratory birds started yesterday in Angthong's Samko district, said Livestock Development Depart-ment director-general Pirom Srijan. The province was declared a bird-flu outbreak zone on Thursday after tests confirmed fowl had been infected. Many migratory birds frequent the Central province. Angthong livestock chief Surachon Tangwiwat suspects that pigeons and Asian openbill storks living in the province could have spread the flu. He said livestock officials had taken preventative measures since receiving reports of fowl deaths in Samko between January 21 and January 23. "I immediately went there to meet local people and ask them to agree to the culling. Then, specimens were collected and sent for lab tests," Surachon said. "We are confident we will be able to prevent the disease from spreading." Livestock officials yesterday intercepted a truck loaded with 700 hatching ducks bound for Nakhon Pathom. The transport of fowl from bird-flu outbreak zones is an offence. Public Health Ministry's spokesman Dr Suphan Srithamma said three Angthong residents were now put on close medical surveillance because they had running nose and lived in an area where the fowls recently died suspiciously. "So far, they don't have fever and initial tests don't detect the bird-flu virus," Suphan said. (cont)

Source: The Nation