November 15, 2008
Bangkok - Several countries such as Singapore, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and Hong Kong joined Malaysia to suspend chicken egg imports.
A new round of bird flu outbreak took place in Uthai Thai province though the disease scare was previously rejected in Sukhothai.
200 chickens began ill and died in Uthai Thani on November 3.
Malaysia has imported 769 tons of chicken from Thailand during September-November, denying the imports suspension would affect the chicken supply in its country.
Thailand confirmed its second avian flu on November 13.
Thailand is the world’s fourth largest chicken exporter. Major export markets are the European Union and Japan.
The government was asked to publicize the separate chicken raising system to importing countries to ensure consumers about safety.
Thailand’s frozen chicken meat exports will be about 30,000 tons which value 1,440 million baht.
However, exports will drop to only 13,000 tons if the outbreak is not controlled.
Thailand has declared free-of-H5N1 virus status since the last bird flu case was confirmed in August 2006.
It has killed millions of poultry to stop the outbreak of the avian flu.
