Now, Thai troops to fight bird flu

Thailand brought in troops and prisoners on Sunday to kill millions of chickens in the hope of stopping the spread of highly contagious bird flu, which has jumped to humans in Vietnam and Thailand. With most ordinary folk too scared to go anywhere near chickens, 400 soldiers were drafted into Suphan Buri province northwest of Bangkok, Deputy Agriculture Minister Newin Chidchop said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has confirmed a bird flu outbreak among chickens but found no evidence the disease has spread to humans, senior Agriculture Ministry officials said.