BANGKOK, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- The World Health Organization has criticized Thailand for its lack of monitoring the movement of fowl, including fighting cocks, which can spread bird flu.
The Bangkok Post reported Saturday an 18-year-old male of the Kabin Buri district, died Wednesday from bird flu -- the country's first known human death from bird flu since the disease re-emerged in July.
WHO wants the Thai government to increase its surveillance of bird flu infections among fighting cocks and house-raised poultry to reduce the risk of virus transmission from animals to people.
"Although the government's enhanced surveillance has been working nicely, the death from the H5N1 strain of bird flu virus shows the quarantine measure to prevent the epidemic among animals is not good enough," said Kumara Rai, the WHO's representative in Thailand.
Rai also recommended the Thai Public Health Ministry provide sufficient information for risk groups, including owners of fighting cocks, to avoid risky behavior.
