A teenage boy has become the first victim in over seven months to die of bird flu in Thailand.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed the 17-year-old from Phetchabun province, who died on Monday, was infected with bird flu.
Since the virus re-emerged in 2003 it is known to have killed 134 people, infected 232 others and millions of birds have died or have been culled.
In Thailand, of the 23 confirmed cases 15 have been fatal.
Health authorities in Thailand are insisting they have the outbreak under control but a high alert is in place and authorities yesterday confirmed a new outbreak of the H5N1 strain of the virus in the neighboring province of Pichit.
The teenager apparently caught the virus from a fighting cock which became sick and he died a week after first visiting a doctor.
He did not report the death of the bird because he feared all his birds would be slaughtered.
Although the boy lived in neighboring Pichit province Thai authorities have confirmed he was not living on the farm where the latest outbreak has occurred.
All movements of poultry in Pichit have been restricted and 20 veterinarians from Bangkok have been sent to the area to contain the outbreak.
Seven other provinces are also on high alert and three of the boy's relatives are under surveillance for any symptoms of the virus.
A complete ban on cock fighting has been imposed in both Pichit and Phitsanulok provinces.
Thai authorities remain firm in their determination to completely eradicate the disease within three years, and are urging the population to fully cooperate with authorities by reporting suspicious deaths among their poultry.
The Thai Government are confident they can contain the outbreak and say they are more prepared now than ever before to deal with any outbreaks.