BANGKOK, Dec 12 — Health officials throughout Thailand have been alerted to the possibility of a renewed outbreak of H5N1 virus as temperatures in the country continue dropping during the ongoing winter season, said Dr Paichit Varachit, Permanent Secretary for Public Health.

Cold weather is now affecting a number of areas in Thailand, allowing the virus to stay alive in the environment longer, causing people to become easily exposed to viruses, especially the deadly H5N1 virus which could break out again during the ongoing winter season, Dr Paichit said.

Although there have been no new patients diagnosed with H5N1 virus reported during the past four years in the country, risks from the disease persisted on two key factors including from natural birds which could carry the disease along with patients in the Asian region who had died from the disease earlier, he said.

MCOT