Bird flu has been detected in three more locations in Thai central province of Suphanburi while another two sites in Northern province of Kamphaeng Phet and central province of Nakhon Pathom have been removed from the list of areas under strict surveillance for risk of the virus outbreak.

According to the Thai Livestock Development Department, lab tests have confirmed that the bird flu virus has spread into three more areas in Suphanburi -- Tambon Ban Don in U-thong district, where 4,500 free-range ducks have contracted H5N1 virus, Tambon Nong-phugnag in Samchuk district with 11 infected fighting cocks, and Tambon Nong-sadao in Samchuk district, where around 2,000 chickens raised for their eggs have been sick.

All the three spots have been declared areas needing close monitoring for 21 days. Livestock officials were sent to cull all poultry in the areas on Oct. 28.

However, a village in Tambon Wangcha-oan in Kamphaeng Phet's Bung-samakkee district and a village in Tambon Lam-phya in Nakhon Pathom's Muang district have been declared clean from the deadly virus as of Monday and removed from the list of locations under 21- day control.

Livestock Department chief Yukol Limlaemthong said that the bird flu-infected ducks in Suphanburi's U-thong district were illegally brought into the area. The department is taking legal action against those involved since the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives earlier prohibited the movement of poultry.

"Over three to seven persons were arrested each day since the regulation went into effect", the Department Chief said.

Yukol said poultry smuggling still exists because smugglers, despite acknowledging the law, can make money by selling fowls at a price higher than usual because of limited supplies.

"They know the law. They know that moving poultry is illegal but they dare to take a chance," he said.

Source: Xinhua