January 15 2006

This Time Europe Magazine article discusses the experience of Thailand in dealing with avian influenza (also known as avian flu or bird flu), and the lessons that can be learned for other countries should outbreaks occur. In Thailand more than 60 million birds have been killed by the virus or culled, while 22 people have been infected and 14 have died. The article suggests that along with swift laboratory work and constant surveillance, community networking and information are vital.

The article states that in Thailand, unlike in many other countries, poultry owners are cooperative when an outbreak requires the destruction of flocks because they understand the health risks. This is because of a government control programme that has reached even the most remote communities, ensuring that virtually every Thai knows the danger bird flu presents - and how it can be fought. According to the article, this ambitious and wide-ranging national response has drastically reduced both avian and human cases since the peak of the outbreak in the autumn of 2004.

According to the article, the first step to lessen the impact of an outbreak is early detection. Many of Thailand's 250 million chickens live in small household farms scattered throughout the country. Official surveillance could easily miss those birds, but a broad network of community health volunteers has been enlisted to look for possible outbreaks. The volunteers disseminate information about the disease and its symptoms to villagers who normally have little contact with doctors or government officials. In addition, the Thai government has made a special effort to educate the most vulnerable groups: a UNICEF-produced series of comic pamphlets warns rural children - who make up the majority of bird-flu cases - to stay away from chickens that appear sick.