Public health officials are now closely monitoring six local people from the same family because they cooked and ate a turkey that died suspiciously. Although they did not develop any symptoms, all except a three-month pregnant woman were given bird-flu medicine Tamiflu as a precaution.

"Last Friday, we also culled about 120 fowls, buried their bodies and sprayed disinfectant," provincial livestock chief Suwat Ponglikhitpat said yesterday. He said livestock officials took action immediately after the suspicious deaths of local fowls were reported.

Earlier this year, bird-flu infections were detected in Nong Khai, Angthong, and Phitsanulok.