"We have repeatedly said there is a brief window of opportunity to act within China," World Health Organization specialist Julie Hall said after Beijing confirmed new outbreaks in the provinces of Hubei and Hunan were the lethal H5N1 strain of avian influenza.

"This latest news strongly suggests that the window is getting smaller with each passing day," she said.

As China announced new suspected infections in two other provinces and the booming city of Shanghai, Thailand -- one of 10 Asian countries hit by the virus -- said bird flu had been detected near the tourist resort area of Phuket.

But Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra -- a multi-millionaire who once worked in a Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet to pay his way at college in the United States -- remained defiant and urged the country to eat more poultry.

"When it's cooked, it's one million percent safe," Thaksin said in his weekly radio address. "I don't want people to be afraid."

He backed up his words with deeds, visiting a KFC outlet in Bangkok with aides on Saturday, and tucking into a lunch of chicken drumsticks.