Thailand slaps ban poultry imports from RI, Vietnam

Thailand slaps ban poultry imports from RI, Vietnam

Thailand slapped a ban on poultry imports from Vietnam and Indonesia on Friday and warned Thai farmers to keep a close watch for a possible return of the epidemic.

Yukol Limlaemthong, director general of Thailand's Department of Livestock, said in Bangkok border crossing points nationwide had been told to make sure smugglers do not attempt to violate the ban on poultry imports from the two countries.

The ban on poultry imports from Vietnam followed reports of a new outbreak of the disease in Vietnam's Mekong Delta this week, although it was still unclear whether it was the same strain of the virus that killed 16 people earlier this year.

Yukol did not say why the poultry ban was extended to Indonesia as well as Vietnam.

Millions of Thai chickens were slaughtered to fight the epidemic earlier this year. A total of 11 human cases of the deadly AH5N1 strain of the virus were detected in the country and seven of them were fatal.

Yukon said blood tests would be taken from poultry at farms throughout the country next week to ensure the epidemic has not returned.

He ordered Thai poultry farmers to monitor their stocks carefully and let authorities know immediately if large numbers of chickens or ducks die suddenly.

The European Union was scheduled to vote on July 15 on whether to resume imports of certain types of Thai chicken products that have been banned since the epidemic surfaced in Asia early this year.