Pakistan confirmed a new outbreak of avian flu in poultry farm in northwestern Pakistan, culling some 2,000 chickens, local media reported on Monday.

Local Livestock and Dairy Development Department and the World Health Organization (WHO) officials said tests conducted in Islamabad laboratory proved the presence of deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.

The virus was detected in Hamid poultry farm in Swabi district of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) after the owner of the farm informed that 4,000 chickens died in the past days, The News newspaper said.

The remaining 2,000 chickens were culled after the confirmation of bird flu outbreak. Another poultry farm was also sealed.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2008)