Thailand and Laos on Tuesday signed an agreement on co-operation in controlling avian influenza, or bird flu, to increase the anti-bird flu abilities of the two countries.

Thailand"e;s Public Health Minister Mongkhol Na Songkhla and his Laotian counterpart Ponmeg Dalaloy signed the agreement in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Mongkhol said that the agreement was a further step in the public health cooperation between the two neighboring countries which began in 1995.

It would improve the prevention and control of the deadly bird flu as well as re-emerging infectious diseases including malaria and tuberculosis, the minister was quoted by the state-run Thai News Agency as saying.

The agreement provides that when a bird flu patient is found in Laos, the Lao government is required to inform the Thai government directly, or to notify the World Health Organization (WHO) accordingly.

Meanwhile, Thailand is committed to provide technical assistance and medical treatment for Lao patients. If necessary, a team of experts will be assigned to assist the Lao authorities to ensure the controlling measures in Laos.

The agreement will be revised every five years, the report said.

Source: Xinhua