South Korea confirms bird flu outbreak

SEOUL (AFP) -

South Korea has confirmed its first bird flu outbreak in three years after a strain of the avian virus was found in tests on dead birds.

"Tests conducted by the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service confirmed a bird flu outbreak caused by the H5N1 virus," Lee Yang-Ho, the spokesman for the agriculture ministry, told journalists.

"Despite the confirmation that the virus is the H5N1 strain, experts are trying to determine if this is a highly contagious type or a milder variety," Lee said.

The blood tests on affected birds were carried out after some 6,000 chickens on one farm died in three days -- the first suspected case since the country declared itself free of the disease last December.