Thailand and Laos step up in anti-bird flu cooperation

Thailand and Laos have stepped up bilateral cooperation on practical response to any possible outbreak of the new deadly A(H7N9) strain of avian influenza along their common border, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported.

As part of the bilateral cooperation, a workshop was organised on Monday in Thailand's northeastern Nong Khai province, drawing together Thai and Lao authorities, to jointly review and launch rehearsals on prepared plans against any possible outbreak of the A(H7N9) strain of the bird flu in areas along their common border.

Meanwhile, Wichai Khattiyawittayakul, chief of Nakhon Ratchasima's public health office, chaired a public forum on preparations for any spreading of both human flu and avian flu in the northeastern Thai region, after more than 10,000 A(H7N9) bird flu cases have been reported in China so far, and about 100 of them died.