BANGKOK, Nov. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Representatives from the European Union (EU) will arrive here on Nov. 24 to begin an eight-day tour to verify the safety of the kingdom´s poultry exports.

    According to Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chaturon Chaisang, the EU team will be showed around government laboratories and poultry farms across the country.

    Despite rigorous efforts to prevent spread of the epidemic, bird flu virus were still present in 13 provinces, 32 districts and 14 tambons, Chaturon was quoted by the official Thai News Agency (TNA) as saying on Tuesday.

    According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the virus has been detected in the lower part of Thailand´s northern region and the central region, where locals raise free-range ducks.

    Chaturon said he has instructed livestock officials to adjust long-term plans to boost efficiency in combating the disease from November to September next year.

    The outbreak is likely to continue for some time, he added.

    Ministers from China, South Korea and Japan will meet in Bangkok on Nov. 25-26 to exchange information and enhance cooperation in fighting the virus.

    Meanwhile, Dr Charal Trinvuthipong, director of the government´s command center on bird flu, said laboratory tests on pigs that had died early October in the eastern Prachinburi province showed that they were killed not by bird flu, but bacterial infection.