Thailand officials said Monday they plan to develop a bird flu vaccine to protest humans from the disease that has already killed 11 people in Thailand.
Thai Deputy Public Health Minister Dr. Suchai Charoenratanakul told the Bangkok Post the government has discussed the potential vaccine with the World Health Organization.
Charoenratanakul said the Thai government wants to cooperate with the WHO in research and development of a bird flu human vaccine: It may or may not be a success. But, if successful, at least we will have a vaccine that can prevent us from catching the disease.
Yukol Limlanthong, head of the Thai Livestock Development Department, told the Post a panel has been formed to study bird flu vaccines for fowl.
Thailand confirmed the first outbreak of avian influenza in January, although there had been mass poultry deaths months before. Since January, more than 60 million fowl have been killed.
