Bangkok, Jan 28: Bangkok has been declared a 'danger zone' with the bird flu spreading to an additional 12 provinces in the country, including the capital which today hosts the international conference on the avian disease which has affected ten countries. Bangkok's Deputy Mayor Prapan Kitisin said Bangkok was a "danger zone" after the avian disease was detected in a fighting cock, chickens and ducks.

Authorities have announced that poultry cannot be moved within a 50km radius of the city.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Somsak Thepsutin, said bird flu had been found in chickens in 12 more provinces. The disease has affected 25 of Thailand's 76 provinces. Thailand is hosting an emergency meeting today with representatives of the US, EU, international organizations and Asian governments affected by bird flu, expected to attend.

The virus has claimed two human lives in Thailand and eight in Vietnam. Ten Asian governments, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam and China have reported outbreaks in poultry stocks.

Pakistan confirmed on Monday that the disease which killed upto four million chickens in Karachi since November was a strain of the bird flu.

Millions of chickens have been culled in the affected countries. Thailand is the world's fourth largest chicken exporter. Japan and EU, two of the major importers of Thai poultry have slapped a ban on the products. Bureau Report