Thailand's Publuc Health Ministry has finally admitted to a bird flu outbreak in the northern province of Pichit province.
The suspicious deaths of 31 fighting cocks and free-range chickens were reported two weeks ago, however, the Caretaker Agricultural and Cooperatives Minister Sudarat Gayurapan downplayed fears of an outbreak.
Now, the minister has revealed that laboratory tests of 20 samples taken from a farm in Bangmunak district has confirmed infection by the deadly H5N1 virus. The farm has been quarantined within a 10-km radius and placed under a three-week surveillance.
Meanwhile, an 11-year old child is in a Pichit hospital with flu-like symptons and is believed to be the first avian flu patient in the latest outbreak, reported the Public Health Ministry.
