Thursday, 18 December 2008

In Brief: Bird flu area quarantined

The Phnom Penh Post

Written by VONG SOKHENG
Thursday, 18 December 2008

A week after a 19-year-old boy was confirmed to have contracted the deadly H5N1 bird flu, the Cambodian government has quarantined a three-kilometre area around the center of the outbreak - which is near the Krangchek Cambodia-Indonesia Friendship Center in Damrus commune, Kandal Stung district, Kandal province - while investigations are ongoing. OnTuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries issued a warning saying all poultry in the area will be destroyed and outlined a temporary suspension of the sale, purchase or transport of poultry, which is to be in effect for the next 30 days. "Anyone who violates these conditions will be punished in accordance to the law," the statement said. Kao Phal, director of the Animal Health and Production Department of the ministry, told the Post that local authorities had destroyed 326 birds in the outbreak area and sprayed the area on Wednesday. "It was difficult to destroy the birds because the birds are not caged," Kao Phal said. "However, we have had good cooperation from residents and all levels of local authorities."

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