THE HAGUE - Bird flu has been identified on a farm in northern Dutch province of Groningen and all 36,000 birds have been destroyed, the Dutch Agriculture Ministry said on Monday.

The variant of H5 bird flu is likely a highly pathogenic variant, said the ministry. An immediate ban has been ordered on the transportation of poultry, eggs, meat and manure within a 10-km radius. Two other farms within a three kilometre radius of the affected company are being tested.

Since early December when the bird flu hit another farm, all poultry farms in the country have been ordered to have their livestock kept indoor.