New cases of avian influenza have been detected in Thailand's central Suphanburi province as the country prepares to declare itself free of the disease on Tuesday.

Bird flu outbreak has been confirmed at five spots in Suphanburi's Sam Chuk district, where more than 450 fowl has been destroyed, said Nirandorn Uangtrakoolsuk, head of the Disease Control and Veterinary Service Bureau of the Livestock Department.

Movements of fowls have been banned within 10-km radius around the area and necessary measures have been put in place to control the outbreak.

"We are going to determine the cause of the fresh round of bird flu infection," he was quoted by The Nation as saying.

The department was also checking whether bird flu is the cause for recent deaths of large number of fowls in six other provinces.

Before the detection of the fresh bird flu case, the Agriculture Ministry has planned to declare the country as "bird flu-free" on Tuesday, 90 days after the last recorded bird flu case in Lopburi province.

Since the infection was limited to small locations, the latest outbreak was unlikely to expand into a large crisis, said Nirandorn.

He called on farmers to report immediately any case of fowl death to the authorities and suggested disinfectant spray be used to protect their farms.

Source: Xinhua