"We are confident that Thailand can control the spread of the outbreak," Thaksin told reporters

He insisted the latest outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, which killed a 17-year-old boy last week in northern Thailand, would not affect the country's 31.8-billion-baht (836 million dollars) in chicken exports.

Thailand is the world's fourth-largest exporter of poultry, having lost the top spot after countries around the world slapped bans on raw Thai chicken over bird flu fears in 2004.

To survive, chicken exporters transformed their operations to export more processed chicken, which is cooked and does not pose a bird flu risk.

"The latest outbreak will not affect Thailand's chicken exports because we have already shifted our focus to cooked chicken," Thaksin said.

The shift to processed chicken has helped rebuild the battered industry. With 270,000 tonnes shipped overseas last year, chicken exports earned 31.79 billion baht, nearing the levels seen before bird flu first emerged in late 2003.

Officials have insisted that the latest bird flu death will not derail Thailand's plans to eradicate the disease within three years, which the government believes is essential to shore up confidence in its poultry industry.

But the country's critical tourism industry has also voiced concerns about bird flu, urging the government to wipe out the latest outbreak before October, when peak season begins for the 12-billion-dollar business.

"Bird flu must be brought under control within two months. Otherwise, the tourism industry will suffer when high season arrives," the Thai Hotels Association vice president Prakit Shinamornpong told AFP.

Thailand has confirmed that the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus had re-emerged in two northern provinces, including one on the border with Laos.

Some 300,000 birds were slaughtered at the weekend in a bid to wipe out the virus, and health officials in broad swathes of the country are on high alert for any future cases.

But tourism agencies worry that the possible spread of bird flu in Thailand, as well as neighboring Laos, could hurt the industry just as it is rebounding from the effects of the December 2004 tsunami.

"Now we have received bookings for high season, which are normally made a few months in advance," Suparerk Soorangura, former president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, told AFP.

"If Thailand fails to make it clear right now that the country can control the bird flu, tourists will panic about the outbreak and decide not to come to Thailand later this year," he said.

The tourism industry, which accounts for six percent of the Thai economy, has rebounded since the beginning of this year after last year's impacts of the December 2004 tsunami.

The industry expects 13 million tourist arrivals in 2006, generating revenue of about 12.3 billion dollars.

The kingdom was criticized for being slow to respond to the first outbreak of bird flu in 2003, but now is considered one of the countries best prepared to battle the disease.

Thailand has also pledged to help its poorer neighbors fight the disease.

Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon said Tuesday that Thailand would set up a fund to help neighboring Laos fight its outbreak, although he did not say how much would be spent.

Thailand has suffered 23 human cases of the disease since late 2003, 15 of them fatal.

Health experts fear the H5N1 strain could mutate into a form that is transmitted more easily between humans, marking the first stage of a global flu pandemic that could kill millions.

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
Bringing Order To A World Of Disasters
When the Earth Quakes
A world of storm and tempest

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News