Mae Suay (AsiaNews) The bird flu is changing the habits of Thai citizens, said two PIME missionaries living in Thailand for several years.
The fear of an epidemic has pushed people not to eat poultry or eggs. "People are afraid and hence have totally changed their diets, substituting chicken a popular and typical dish in Thai cuisine with pork and fish. Eggs, from chickens and hens, have disappeared from markets. The price of chicken has fallen, while pork has risen steep in price," said the 37 year-old priest, Fr. Claudio Corti.
Frs. Claudio Corti and Maurizio Arioldi work in the dioceses of Chiang Ma, in the country's far north. "In our province, said Fr. Maurizio, age 42, "there are no centers of infection for the virus. People are calmer and have not changed lifestyles. However, the media continue to raise fears by reporting updates on the situation. A positive fact is that the government has admitted to the mistake of covering up the presence of the virus, which it knew about since last November. Yet it isn't clear if the situation has gotten worse due to negligence and silence on the government's part or because of the disease's virulence."
The measures that have been taken to stop the epidemic are impressive. "There continue to be mass cullings of chickens and hens to prevent the virus from spreading. People are now forbidden from entering zoos due to the presence of ostriches, which are also birds," he said.
Both missionaries say they fear economic repercussions. "Thai people by nature tend to remain calm after continuous government reassurance," said Fr. Corti. "But they are well aware that the bird flu has inflicted great harm on the economy. It's a difficult situation for everyone. Many people raise chickens, which represent an important source of income and livelihood to them."