Dairy farmers from Muak Lek district, in Thailand’s central province of Saraburi, are due to petition
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Agriculture Minister Chalermchai Sri-on today to seek urgent help
after more than 70 dairy cows have died from, and over 1,700 others have become infected with
suspected foot and mouth disease.
Farmers in Tambon Lamphaya Klang, where most of the dairy cows were reported to have become
infected, told Thai PBS reporters that the animals started to show symptoms of the highly infectious
disease around January 5 th and several animals have already died.
Ms. Chatcharee Niyamosot, a veterinarian at the provincial veterinary office, disclosed that, so far, the
outbreak has been confined in 108 of about 2,300 dairy farms in Saraburi province, adding that the
situation has improved, with over 1,000 sick cattle having recovered after treatment.
Ms. Chatcharee noted that the death of the cows this year was unusual and many of the fatalities were
young cattle, adding that the animals might be infected with foot-and-mouth disease or had been
suffering from fatigue.
Autopsy and laboratory tests will identify the exact cause animals’ deaths.
