New H5N1 strain found in Nigeria: FAO

A new strain of H5N1 bird flu has shown up among birds in Africa in a worrying development, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported on Monday.

The new strain of H5N1 avian influenza is genetically different from the strains that circulated in Nigeria during earlier outbreaks in 2006 and 2007 and is new to Africa, the FAO said.

"It is more similar to strains previously identified in Europe (Italy), Asia (Afghanistan) and the Middle East (Iran) in 2007," the FAO said in a statement.