Public health officials in provinces bordering Cambodia, Sa Kaeo in particular, have been placed on alert for the possible spread of bird flu, after the Cambodian Public Health Ministry reported seven cases of H5N1 in the country.
Thai Public Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Opart Karnkawinpong said the latest bird flu case, which was reported on Monday, is a five-year-old girl living in Takeo province, who is believed to have contracted the disease from her 3-year-old brother.
The two children were reported to have eaten chicken thought to have died from H5N1 bird flu, he said, as he noted that six of the seven patients are children and all of them were found to have had contact with sick or dead chickens.
Dr. Opart disclosed that one of the precautionary measures adopted at all the hospitals in provinces bordering Cambodia is that all patients with symptoms of a lung infection will be asked whether they have had contact with birds, so they can be separated from the other patients.
Cooperation has also been sought from livestock development officials by monitoring the poultry situation, especially those which die mysteriously, said Dr. Opart, as he warned members of the public to refrain from touching sick or dead chickens or other birds and to wear a face mask and gloves if it is necessary to touch them.
Symptoms associated with bird flu include fever, coughing, a sore throat, muscle pain, headache, fatigue and difficulty breathing. Some patients may develop serious complications, such as respiratory system failure.
