Thailand's Animal Epidemics Act to include Ebola in disease control

BANGKOK, November 20 (TNA) - The Thai Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, through its Department of Livestock Development, plans to include the Ebola virus disease in the Animal Epidemics Act in order to improve national control of diseases that animals may carry. Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives Chavalit Chookajorn told journalists on Thursday that a deputy prime minister has agreed with the planned legal amendment and gave a nod for the ministry to seek the Cabinet's approval. Chavalit said, after the Cabinet's approval, the amendment will go to the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) and the legal amendment should take effect over the next four months. Pending the amendment, Chavalit noted that the Department of Livestock Development requires business operators to always seek its permission for every import of animals and carcasses. According to the senior official, the Department of Livestock Development currently blocks imports and transits of all products controlled by Thailand's Animal Epidemics Act, including those from all countries in Africa except only those from South Africa, and its officials are watching out for attempts to smuggle animals and carcasses at border checkpoints, sanitizing vehicles crossing the border and checking passengers and luggage from countries facing or being at risk of outbreaks of the Ebola virus disease. (TNA)