RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has temporarily banned imports of live birds, hatchingeggs and chicks from India after a form of bird flu that is highly lethalfor poultry was found in the south Asian country, the Saudi agricultureministry said on Thursday.

In January, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said, citing areport from the Indian agriculture ministry, that India had reported anoutbreak of a highly contagious bird flu virus near Bengaluru in thesouthern state of Karnataka.

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said in astatement that its ban was issued in accordance with the warning releasedby the Paris-based OIE, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported.

According to OIE report, posted on its website, the H5N8 virus was detectedon Dec. 26 among birds in the village of Dasarahalli, killing nine out of951 birds. The others were culled. No details were given on the type ofbirds involved.