In Thai provinces where avian influenza outbreaks in poultry had been confirmed in the preceding 6 months, serum from 322 poultry farmers was tested for antibodies to avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 by microneutralization assay. No study participant met the World Health Organization serologic criteria for confirmed infection.

Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat that affects all countries. The Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance and the United Nations Political Declaration on antimicrobial resistance set standards for countries to resolve antimicrobial resistance challenges under the One Health approach. We assess progress and challenges in implementing Thailand’s national strategic plan on antimicrobial resistance 2017–2022, discuss interim outcomes and share lessons learnt. Major progress includes: establishing a national governance mechanism that leads high-impact policy on antimicrobial resistance and consolidates actions and multisectoral collaboration; creating a monitoring system and platform to track implementation of the strategic plan; and converting strategies of the strategic plan into actions such as controlling the distribution and use of antimicrobials in humans and animals. Interim results indicate that antimicrobial consumption in animals has nearly halved (exceeding the national goal of a 30% reduction) whereas other goals have not yet reached their targets. We have learnt that elevating antimicrobial resistance to high-level visibility and establishing a national governance mechanism is an important first step, and a monitoring and evaluation system should be developed in parallel with implementation. Securing funds is crucial. Policy coherence is needed to avoid duplication of actions. Highly ambitious goals, although yet to be achieved, can advance actions beyond expectations. Political commitment and collaboration across different sectors will continue to play important roles but might not be sustained without a well-designed governance structure to support long-term actions to address antimicrobial resistance.

This study aimed to assess the Thailand Department of Disease Control's (DDC) early responses to COVID-19 in respect to communication with the international community and to identify the manner of Thailand's response during public health emergencies. Methods: Documents and international response communication from 4-31 January 2020 were reviewed and dates of responses were collected for descriptive analysis. A questionnaire was submitted to the DDC officers responsible for international coordination. A meeting to identify responses was held to evaluate the self-assessed capacities of the Department's international communication.Results: Thailand began the COVID-19 screening protocol on 3 January 2020. International correspondence subsequently occurred continually either through the ASEAN or International Health Regulations (IHR) mechanisms. The total score of communication for international response was 88.9%. For IHR reporting duties, the median duration to respond was 2.49 hours. Official news was sent within a mean of 9.18 hours and the English daily situation reports were always uploaded onto the official website within 24 hours. Conclusions: This study provided a benchmark for international coordination and communication capacities and also identified areas for improvement during public health emergencies, such as the need to identify English-speaking spokespeople to communicate at an international level.

Little is known about the burden of Q fever in Thailand. We conducted a serological study to describe the prevalence of anti- antibodies among ruminants and occupationally exposed persons in response to the report of the first two Q fever endocarditis patients in Thailand in 2012. We randomly selected ruminant sera from brucellosis surveillance and examined sera of 661 occupationally exposed subjects from two provinces of Thailand: Chiangmai and Nakornratchasima. Animal and human sera were tested using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Environmental samples, vaginal swab, and milk from cows in Chiangmai farms with detectable anti- serum antibodies were tested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among the 1,632 animal sera tested, 64 (3.9%) were seropositive. The prevalence was highest in dairy cattle (4.6%, 45/988), followed by goats (3.5%, 18/516) and sheep (2.1%, 1/48). The prevalence of anti- antibodies in each species varied significantly by province: the prevalence in cattle was higher in Chiangmai (5.5% versus 0%), however, the prevalence in sheep and goats was higher in Nakornratchasima (5.9% versus 1.0%). Four out of 60 milk samples were positive by PCR (6.7%). No environmental samples were positive. Among 661 human samples, 83 (12.6%) were ELISA positive. Seroprevalence was statistically higher in Chiangmai compare with Nakornratchasima (42.8% versus 3.0%). infection exists in Thailand, but the prevalence varies by geographic distribution and animal reservoirs. Further studies focusing on the burden and risk factors of infection among high-risk groups should be conducted.

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