Bird flu returns to Thailand

After declaring its outbreak under control last week, Thailand now says the deadly virus has re-emerged in nine provinces.

The smuggling of fighting roosters is being blamed for what has been dubbed the second wave of Thailand’s bird flu outbreak. No compensation has been offered to owners of the fighting birds, which are worth up $7,000 each.Thai officials say they have not been able to stop breeders smuggling the prized birds out of infected areas. The latest outbreak comes amid a major Thai Government campaign to restore domestic and international confidence in the Government’s handling of the bird flu crisis.(Source: ABC Health News, Feb 2004)