- Title: THAILAND: Thailand and South Korea go all out to keep swine flu at bay
- Date: 1st May 2009
- Summary: GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA (APRIL 29, 2009) (REUTERS) PORK BEING MOVED FROM COLD STORE VETERINARIAN CHECKING PORK VARIOUS OF PORK IN BOX VEHICLE BEING LIFTED INTO COLD STORAGE BOXES WITH NOTICE: "FROM MEXICO" PORK WITH NOTICE "QUARANTINE INSPECTION GOING ON" BOXES PILED UP EXTERIOR OF COLD STORE AND TRUCKS
- Embargoed: 16th May 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Thailand
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: International Relations,Health
- Reuters ID: LVA6CM9QIWAAUPLI0WE2XK7WH6XF
- Story Text: Thailand steps up efforts to keep the swine flu at bay as officials closely monitor pigs. South Korean farmers disinfect pig farms as veterinarians inspect imported pork.
Thailand officials are closely monitoring sick pigs as part of the nation's prevention measures from the deadly swine flu strain, after the virus killed up to 149 people in Mexico.
A team of veterinarians in Ratchaburi (pron: Rat-cha-bu-ree), 100 kilometres west of Bangkok, visited a pig farm to take a nasal swab from sick pigs as officials asked farmers to report any case of sick or dead pigs.
Thailand has reported no cases of the virus but it has strengthened its pandemic preparedness after an initial slow response to bird flu in 2003, which badly damaged the world's fourth largest chicken export industry.
The collected samples would be handed to laboratory for examination which might take up to nine-days to get results.
The veterinarians said they usually visit the farm to get swab tests twice a year before the H1N1 swine flu -- a combination of swine, avian and human virus -- came about.
"This is part of our monitoring. The laboratory will investigate further if they find swine influenza. Then, they have to look into the DNA, to see if the genes have changed to a different form. It's the duty of laboratory to look into it," said veterinarian Jamlong Worasee (pron: Jam-long Wo-ra-see).
Ratchaburi has 1.5 million pigs, which is the largest in the country.
The United Nations' food agency said it was mobilising its animal health experts to check if the new strain of flu virus widely described as swine flu is really directly linked to pigs.
Some 14 medical centres across the country were set up and capable of tackling an outbreak of swine flu. Another six mobile units were on standby to handle remote outbreaks.
The health officials also urged the public not to panic about pork, which is used in popular Thai dishes either grilled, fried or stewed.
"I was a little scared initially. Then I listened to the news and I felt it should not have any effect to my health. However, we have to wait and see if the disease is linked to pigs," food stall owner Wipada Tienchai (pron: Wi-pa-da Tien-chai) said. She said her business had not been effected by swine flu.
Some people have stopped eating pork, but many prefer well-done meat.
"Yes, it's scary. For consumers like us, we are not sure if this virus is really linked to pigs. But for me, I will eat clean food and choose clean restaurants," said 33-year-old Patipat Thayadej (pron: Pa-ti-pat Ta-ya-det).
"No, I'm not worried about it because it is just an illness. If we eat cooked pork, it should not be a problem. I'm not worried about anything," said 48-year-old Kanda Suebtub (pron: Kan-da Sueb-tub).
Thailand's Health Minister said the country had enough Tamiflu stockpiled to treat 300,000 patients, and the government drug maker can produce more if necessary.
Some 149 people in Mexico have died of the swine flue virus, which has caused milder symptoms in other countries including the United States, Canada, Spain, Britain, Israel and New Zealand.
Thailand also gave an advisory for people who want to travel to infected area to postpone their trips.
The Southeast Asian nation was among the hardest hit by the bird flu virus a few years ago and has invested heavily in pandemic preparedness plans.
South Korean farmers and government officials as well as veterinarians took preventive measures on Wednesday (April 29) against possible swine flu, while health authorities are testing a woman for suspected swine flu.
Pig farm owners in Yangju, north of Seoul, have been working hard on disinfecting pig farms and vehicles that transport the animals.
"Usually, April and May is the period when pork prices are the highest. But, we're down by 25 percent of our sales because of this swine influenza," said a farm manager La won-chan.
A Kyunggi Province official said they have encouraged all pig farms to take preventive measures seriously.
"We're preventing possible infection of the virus by disinfecting the pig farm's interior and exterior more than once daily," said Kyunggi Province official Chun Ho-suk.
In the meantime, South Korea's veterinarians inspected imported pork from Mexico at cold stores.
South Korea's agricultural ministry temporarily banned live pig imports from North America as a precautionary measure from Wednesday (April 29). The ministry said South Korea had imported 1,800 breeding pigs last year from the region.
South Korea's health authorities are conducting clinical tests on a 51-year-old woman who is displaying symptoms of swine flu upon her return from Mexico. She was identified as the nation's first probable case of swine flu, but her condition does not appear to be life-threatening, South Korean officials said.
Seoul's Yonhap news reported and Health Ministry confirmed "probable" patients test positive for type-A influenza, but negative for human variants of the virus, while "suspected" patients show flu-like symptoms such as coughing and fever.
The ministry said on Wednesday nine additional people had been identified as suspected cases of the infection, but four of them have tested negative.
On Tuesday (April 28), three South Koreans were identified as suspected cases of the infection, but two tested negative.
The South Korean government officials have held emergency meetings and the country's international airports have tightened its inspection of passengers using thermal scans.
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