January 23, 2007

New outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in north-eastern Thailand

A fresh outbreak of virulent bird flu has been found in hens in north-eastern Thailand, a livestock official said Tuesday.

The H5N1 virus outbreak was confirmed by laboratory tests after the deaths of some 200 chickens were reported in Nong Khai province last week, said Nirand Uaebumrungsut, a veterinarian with the Agriculture Ministry's Department of Livestock Development.

Last week, livestock officials reported the country's first H5N1 outbreak in almost six months among ducks in the northern Thai province of Phitsanulok.