Shiraz, Fars prov, Jan 26, IRNA - Minister of Health Kamran Baqeri Lankarani said here Saturday that no case of H5N1 virus has been observed in Iran.

Lankarani told reporters that based on a Veterinary Organization announcement, one case of fatality, involving four birds, was reported from a village in northern Mazandaran province last week.

He said following the incident, medical teams and necessary assistance were dispatched to the area to prevent any spread of deadly avian flu.

Humans typically are inflicted with the disease by coming into direct contact with infected poultry, but experts fear the H5N1 strain may mutate into a form easily transmissible between people.

Iran has not had any human cases of bird flu.

... Payvand News - 01/27/08 ... --