Thai toddler dies of suspected bird flu

A four-year-old boy suspected of having bird flu died today as Thai officials gave away cooked chicken and eggs to try to ease public fears of poultry products amid an outbreak that has killed three people and devastated farms nationwide.

Prapasit Taopramong died at a hospital in north-eastern Khon Kaen province’s Manjakhiri district, and an autopsy and lab tests will determine whether the child died from avian influenza, government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair said.