‘No panic’ – but Thailand on bird flu alert after Cambodia death
Thai health officials say there is no need to panic over a bird-flu fatality in Cambodia but have advised the public to cook chicken and eggs thoroughly.
The Health Department said it is monitoring for signs of the virus in Thailand after a child died of bird flu in eastern Cambodia.
Department director-general Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai advised farmers, sellers and consumers of chicken and eggs to keep their guard up and observe disease prevention measures.
On Thursday, virologist Anan Jongkaewwattana of the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology called on government health agencies to increase bird flu monitoring after an 11-year-old girl died of the disease in Prey Veng province, east of Phnom Penh, on Wednesday.
Cambodia’s Health Ministry reported that the girl was diagnosed with H5N1 infection on Tuesday.
Thai farmers have been told to immediately alert the Livestock Development Department if a batch of their foul die suspiciously. The farmers must not touch the dead foul or use them to feeds humans or animals, Anan said. Meanwhile markets that sell fresh chicken, duck or other foul must be cleaned daily and must perform a deep clean with sanitary measures at least once a month.
Vendors selling cooked food should wash their hands after touching the raw meat and use separate knives and chopping boards for raw and cooked meat.
He warned consumers to avoid chicken meat with bruises or bleeding spots.
He said chicken and duck meat should be cooked at 70 degrees Celsius for at least five minutes.
People who developed a high fever, headache, cough, sore throat or shivering cold after coming into contact with chickens or other fowl should see a doctor immediately.
