Govt prohibits live bird imports at border checkpoints

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) has ordered its officials at border check-points across the country not to allow people to bring live birds into the Kingdom, in a bid to prevent the spread of the H7N9 bird-flu virus.

Meanwhile, Public Health officials nationwide have been urged to be vigilant against the spread of H7N9 after Taiwan reported the world's first deadly case outside mainland China.

The strict measures come after health authorities learned that the number of confirmed human infections in China has risen in the past few weeks.

DNP deputy director-general Theerapat Prayoonsith said he had instructed his officials nationwide to tighten surveillance measures to counter the spread of H7N9, especially in border areas.

"Live avian imports are not allowed into the Kingdom, especially from H7N9 influenza-affected countries," he said.

Since earlier this year, the DNP has randomly tested over 1,300 migratory birds and birds in their natural habitats for the bird-flu virus. The laboratory results found no avian influenza in birds living in their natural habitats.

According to the World Health Organisation, as of Thursday, a total of 109 lab-confirmed cases of human infection with the avian influenza A (H7N9) virus, including 22 deaths, had been reported to the WHO. People in contact with the confirmed cases are being closely monitored.

On Thursday, the WHO reported that one laboratory-confirmed case of human infection with the virus had been reported by the Taipei Centres for Disease Control (CDC).

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/04/27/govt-prohibits-live-bird-imports-at-border-checkpoints/