By SPA
Paris : Iran has reported an outbreak of deadly H5N1 bird flu among free-range chickens, the Associated Press quoted the World Organization for Animal Health as saying today.
The outbreak on December 10 was not reported to the Paris-based body until Wednesday, it said.
Iran reported that 14 birds were infected and that another 475 were destroyed, said the animal health organization, also known as the OIE. It is an intergovernmental body responsible for improving animal health worldwide.
The OIE has been at the forefront of global efforts to monitor and fight H5N1, which scientists have tracked because they fear it may mutate into a human flu virus that starts a pandemic.
The outbreak was in Mazandaran province on the Caspian Sea, the OIE said.
It said investigations are under way to trace the source of the infection and its probable spread.