Thailand's northeast is on alert against possible outbreaks of avian influenza after poultry were found dead for unknown reasons in the region, the Thai News Agency reported Thursday.

However, the authorities stressed that no bird flu case has been confirmed so far.

The Regional Office of Animal Heath and Sanitation 3 Director Suwudhi Chalejorn, who oversees the nine provinces in Thailand's northeast, said poultry found dead in five of seven provinces have already tested negative, but lab results are not yet available for nine dead birds from Surin province and one from Yasothon province.

The poultry deaths alerted local animal husbandry officials to boost prevention measures against possible outbreaks of bird flu in all provinces under supervision of the regional office, he said.

Dr. Samroeng Yaengkratok, head of Nakhon Ratchasima provincial public health office said that during the first six months of 2006 no patients in the northeast were reported as infected with bird flu.

Source: Xinhua