BANGKOK, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Public Health Ministry on Thursday declared nine northern provinces under a special watch for the deadly avian influenza after the disease was discovered in two districts in the region recently.

    Deputy Permanent Secretary for Public Health Dr. Paichai Varachit said the decision to impose the special monitoring was made at a meeting of ministry officials early Thursday.

    As cold weather began in most parts of Thailand, health officials on Oct. 28 detected the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in a dead fowl in Thung Salium district of Sukhothai province.

    Also, a number of birds were found dead of unknown causes in Nong Chang district of Uthai Thani province recently.

    Every hospital in the nine provinces are also instructed to provide treatment speedily to patients suspected to have contracted avian influenza or live in areas where birds died for unknown causes without waiting for laboratory tests, said Dr. Paichit.