Health officials in Thailand on Monday confirmed a bird flu outbreak in the northeastern province of Mukdahan. This is the fourth H5N1 outbreak in Thailand this year, local media says.

Local authorities said the new bird flu outbreak was first reported two weeks ago in a domestic chicken at a farm in Mukdahan.

Thai news network The Nation said, laboratory tests conducted on the chickens confirmed the presence of H5N1 strain.

The farm's chicken, turkey and ducks were culled along with 70 eggs.

In January, an outbreak of bird flu was detected in the northern Thai province of Nong Khai. The virus was found in egg laying hens.

Since 2003, when the virus was first reported, at least 163 people have died including 17 in Thailand.