Bird flu outbreaks could mean long-term losses.

(From Lloyds List)

SHIPOWNERS catering for routes to and from Thailand can expect to see a continuation of the downward slide in chicken exports and imports of soyabean and corn, writes Namrata Nadkarni.

With the death of a 26 year old woman from the first probable case of human-to-human transmission of avian influenza (or bird flu as it is commonly known), it seems unlikely that Thai exports of chicken will resume in the near future.

Chicken exports from Thailand were suspended earlier this year by most countries, when the first outbreak of bird flu swept across Asia, infecting countries such as Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Thailand, South Korea and Indonesia.

Although some countries such as Malaysia have managed to contain outbreaks and have resumed chicken exports Singapore will have partially lifted the ban on Malaysian chicken as of today the situation does not look as good for Thailand.

More than 60m chickens have been culled so far in the attempt to curb the outbreak, but it has been unsuccessful and looks to worsen over the next few months.

'We are talking at least three to five years as long as the disease persists in China, Vietnam and Malaysia, Thailand won't be able to get rid of the flu and vice versa,' Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisang said after an emergency meeting called to deal with the problem. 'There are no fences along borders in Asia to block migrating birds. For safety's sake, people need to take extra precautions to protect themselves'