(Date of previous outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in Thailand reported to the OIE: November 2005).

Report date: 24 July 2006.

Reason for immediate notification: re-occurrence of a listed disease or infection in a country following a report declaring the outbreaks ended.

Identification of agent: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus subtype H5.

Date of first confirmation of the event: 24 July 2006.

Date of start of the event: 16 July 2006.

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been reported in BangMulnarg district (Pichitr province). There were 31 dead native chicken and 295 susceptible animals.

The diagnosis has been made by the Lower Northern Regional Veterinary Research and Development Centre (Department of Livestock Development, Pitsanuloke province) using RT-PCR⁽¹⁾ test.

Control measures undertaken:

The outbreak was found during the 2006 second active surveillance program in progress since 1 June 2006 in high risk areas.

Pichitr Provincial Livestock Office has declared the whole BangMulnarg district as an HPAI infected area, which allows the authorities of the Department of Livestock Development to conduct a full scale of disease control measures.

(1) RT-PCR: reverse transcriptase – polymerase chain reaction