Bird flu is showing further signs of virulence and has been detected in two more Thai provinces. Infected backyard chickens were the cause of the two latest outbreaks in the southern provinces of Pattani and Narkon Sri Thammarat. Thai authorities say they have 19 of the 21 provinces affected with outbreaks under control.

Simultaneously, there has been an outbreak of the virus in eastern Indonesia that has infected more than 20,000 chickens. A vaccine is currently being distributed to farmers in the worst-hit areas. Indonesia suffered outbreaks of the disease in several regions in February and July, but has so far avoided a case of human infection. The virus has already killed 32 people in Thailand and Vietnam.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) rang the alarm bells this month by saying the spread of the virus in Asia suggests the world has moved a step closer to a pandemic that could take as many as 50 million lives.

Share this story: