Cockfighting and Avian Flu

 

In the midst of excitement during a game or a sporting event, safety is not on top of the minds of participants and spectators.  In the thrill of a cockfight, breeders, caretakers and gamblers may disregard the risk of contracting avian flu.

This is why in Lao PDR, cockfighting arenas are banned by the authorities in big cities like Vientiane. They are allowed only in remote communities, where it is easier to screen the animals. Authorities from both Laos and Thailand have also prohibited the transporting of birds across the Lao-Thai border.

But is this enough? Khamdeng Thounevilay shows, through interviews with breeders and fans of the sport, how people’s mindsets can impact on the battle against this contagious disease.

“Of course we fear the avian flu, but we have not stopped cockfighting because the disease has not occurred in our farm yet.”