Niger confirms bird flu outbreak

In this Nov. 2, 2005, file photo, turkeys are seen at a turkey farm near Sauk Centre, Minn. (AP)

PARIS – Niger has reported an outbreak of the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus at a poultry site in the capital Niamey, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Friday.

Niger's veterinary services submitted a notification to the OIE on Thursday after the outbreak was confirmed at the end of May, the Paris-based OIE said in a statement.

The outbreak, which led to the death of 86,000 poultry birds, started in late February, and followed a previous outbreak last year, the OIE said.

H5N1 bird flu has spread across a number of West African countries in the past two years, hitting poultry farms.