The H5N1 strain of bird flu has been reported in a domestic poultry farm in southern Egypt, the first time the highly pathogenic virus was detected in the country in months.

The new case was reported in the village of Al-Rakakna, in the Sohag province, some 490 kilometres (305 miles) south of Cairo, a statement from the agriculture ministry said Sunday.

All poultry on the farm was slaughtered and tests were under way to check that none of the people who had been in contact with the infected animals were contaminated.

The last human case of H5N1 reported in Egypt dates back to May.

Out of the 14 human cases of avian influenza that have been reported among Egyptians since mid-March, six turned out to be fatal and eight people recovered after being treated with the drug Tamiflu.