BANGKOK, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Livestock Department of Thailand Thursday confirmed the third outbreak of bird flu this year, after they found the deadly H5N1 virus among chickens in central province of Angthong.

    The results of laboratory tests Thursday confirmed that it's the H5N1 virus, found in 10 chickens raised by small farmers, some for cock fighting, in Angthong Province, which is only 140 kilometers from the capital Bangkok, Livestock Department officials was quoted by Thai news group The Nation as saying.

    There have been 25 bird flu patients in Thailand since the most recent outbreak here in 2004, of whom 17 died of the H5N1 virus.

    Just last month, Thai northeastern Nong Khai province and northern Phitsanulok province were confirmed as the country's two bird flu outbreaking provinces this year.