Leader of Thailand`s Opposition Party, the Democrat, Sunday attacked the government for a new outbreak of bird flu virus…
Leader of Thailand`s Opposition Party, the Democrat, Sunday attacked the government for a new outbreak of bird flu virus in the country`s poultry, saying it must not cover up the problem this time.
Mr. Banyat Banthadtharn, leader of the Democrat Party said the disease has returned because the government has covered up the problem during the previous outbreak for fears that it would affect the country`s poultry exports.
During the last outbreak, some people lost their life, the country`s tourism has been affected, and nearly a million Thais became unemployed. Everyone agreed that it was because the government had covered up, he said.
Thailand was hit by a bird flu outbreak early this year. It forced the government to cull nearly 40 million chickens nationwide to contain the virus. At least 8 people died from the disease.
Thailand confirmed the re-emergence of bird flu virus, the type lethal to humans this week at chicken farms in the central province of Ayutthaya, and in Pathum Thani province on the outskirts of Bangkok. Thousands of chickens have been culled.
While the government has claimed it could contain the spread of the bird flu virus in the two provinces, more outbreaks have been reported in three other provinces.
Officials said Saturday several hundreds of chickens at farms in the northern provinces of Sukhothai,and Uttaradit have been culled after they were reportedly infected with the bird flu virus. Officials also suspected some chickens in the northeastern Mukdahan province has also been infected.
Mr. Banyat said the government must reveal real bird flu situation the country has found itself in. He said it was important to keep the general public informed on the health threat to avoid loss of life and business.
The government must accept suggestions from independent animal health experts to contain the spread of the virus. It should allow these experts to take part in government laboratory tests to ensure that there would be no cover up on the government part, he said.
Mr. Banyat also suggested the government prepare measures to help poultry exporters who would be inevitably affected again by the re-emergence of the disease.
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