Bird flu found in northern Thailand

Thai authorities have identified the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in a village in the north of the country.

Avian influenza was found on a household which had 17 birds in the historic monastic province of Sukothai.

Health chiefs became concerned after reports of the deaths of several birds in the area, the Straits Times reported.

On further investigation, the Thai authorities discovered bird flu in one of the birds.

All the poultry at the household has been culled as a precautionary measure and a 5km exclusion zone has been set up around the house.

The World Health Organization has published concern that the virus could mutate into a human strain.

People living in close proximity to birds infected with deadly H5N1 are most at risk if they are rearing or killing them for meat.

It is the first reported outbreak of bird flu since January, according to the publication.

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