Bird flu outbreak spreads in Thailand, under control in Vietnam and China

Officials say the latest bird flu (avian flu) outbreak is spreading in Thailand and is under control in China and Vietnam.


In Thailand the situation is worrying authorities as 15 of the country's 76 provinces have cases of infection.


There are suspected cases of the more dangerous strain of bird flu, H5N1 awaiting lab results in China. This more dangerous strain killed several Thai and Vietnamese humans during another outbreak earlier on this year.


The Thai stock market has taken a 1% fall as a direct result of the current outbreak. Thailand is one of the largest chicken exporters in the world. The present and recent outbreaks of bird flu are 'devastating' the industry.


Fortunately, this outbreak has seen no cases of humans getting ill.


Authorities in China and Vietnam say there have been no new cases of bird flu over the last few days - this could mean that it is now under control in those countries.