Bird flu outbreak in Saudi Arabia

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- The Saudi Agriculture Minister Friday announced roughly 90,000 chickens succumbed to avian flu at a poultry farm near Riyadh.

Dr. Fahad Balghunayim said in a statement officials were taking appropriate measures to contain the bird flu outbreak, the Kuwaiti news agency Kuna reported Friday.

An outbreak of 1,500 infected chickens at another farm prompted the Saudi agriculture ministry to reduce the stock size by 50,000 birds.

Humans who came into contact with the infected chickens tested negative for the disease, Kuna said.