A Thai boy whose father died of bird flu earlier this week has tested positive for the deadly H5N1 virus.
"The results of two lab tests were positive. Therefore, we conclude that this patient is infected with bird flu," a statement issued by Bangkok's Siriraj Hospital said.
It added that the boy's temperature had returned to normal and that he was eating and playing.
Bird flu, which experts fear could mutate into a form that jumps easily from person to person and unleash a global pandemic, has killed over 60 people in four Asian countries during this period.
"There is a high possibility he [the victim] caught the bird flu virus because he had direct contact with the infected chicken," Disease Control Department chief Thawat Suntarajarn told journalists.
"But the [initial]tests showed negative because he was given Tamiflu right away after he had symptoms," he said, referring to Roche AG's anti-flu drug which has been shown to reduce H5N1 symptoms.
Under pressure to increase worldwide production of Tamiflu, known generically as oseltamivir, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant agreed yesterday to meet four generic drug makers with a view to potential tie-ups.
All human deaths from avian flu have so far been in Asia, but the H5N1 strain was detected this month in birds in Russia, Turkey and Romania. Further tests are being carried out in Europe on a bird from Greece.