April 30, 2009
BANGKOK (AFP) - Southeast Asian health ministers will meet next week in Thailand to discuss how to tackle the threat of deadly swine flu, Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Thursday.
Abhisit said the meeting of health ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would show that the region was united in addressing the prospect of a pandemic.
"The meeting will take place within the next week. The Thai health minister is coordinating with ASEAN members over the meeting, which will be held in Thailand," Abhisit told reporters.
"It shows the unity of ASEAN in fighting problems."
The city of Bangkok meanwhile announced it would donate 100,000 face masks to taxi drivers and guesthouses on Friday to try to prevent the spread of flu.
Thai authorities have installed thermal scanners at the main international airport, while imports of pork and related products from the United States and Mexico, the epicentre of the outbreak, have been banned.
On Wednesday Thailand ruled out swine flu in its only official suspected case so far.
