Bird flu spreads in Middle East

Jordan has become the latest Middle Eastern state to confirm the presence of the deadly bird flu virus.

Dead birds from a privately owned farm in the north of Jordan, in the Ajloun district, underwent scientific tests which confirmed the H5N1 strain as the cause of death.

This follows previous findings in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, leading to the announcement of a press conference on the subject and future plans to deal with an outbreak, to be held by the health minister Saeed Darwazeh.

Mr Darwazeh has already spoken publicly about the detection of the virus, calling for "people raising domestic fowl to get rid of them" before the authorities are forced to conduct searches and carry out the killings.

Although the H5NI strain of bird flu is not thought to pass between humans, it is still considered a serious threat and has been responsible for the death of 100 people so far.