New cases of bird flu in Kuwait

Kuwait: Two new cases of bird flu were found in Kuwait on Tuesday, raising to 52 the total number of infected birds in the country.

Health Ministry official Ahmed Al Shatti said the deadly strain of the virus was found in a falcon and a chicken.

He said that 250 people who had been in contact with the birds and their families have so far tested negative for the disease.

Experts from the World Organisation for Animal Health have arrived to combat the outbreak, which has caused the culling of more than 25,000 birds so far.

Kuwait has closed down the country's zoo and poultry shops in residential areas, and banned the import of live birds.