A 27-year-old man has died of bird flu, becoming the second person this year to be killed by the disease in Thailand, a Health Ministry official said today.

China reported its seventh and eighth bird flu outbreaks in three weeks, as Australia’s foreign minister said today that he will urge Pacific Rim nations to think creatively about how to tackle the threat at a meeting of regional leaders.

China reported its seventh and eighth bird ‘flu outbreaks in three weeks today, while Vietnam – which has suffered most of Asia’s human deaths from the virus – ordered police and the military to help fight the disease.

An 18 month old boy has become the 21st person in Thailand to catch the H5N1 bird flu virus, but is recovering in hospital, a senior health ministry official said today.

A 48-year-old man has died after he ate his neighbour’s sick chickens, making him the 13th person confirmed to have died from bird flu in Thailand.