BOGOTA, Dec. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Colombia has been delcared clear of any kind of bird flu, the country's agriculture minister said in astatement on Thursday.

    A large number of Latin American countries banned poultry imports from Colombia after a mild version of the bird flu was discovered on three Colombian farms two months ago.

    Tests conducted by the Colombian Agricultural Institute, working alongside a U.S. laboratory, determined that this version of the flu in Colombia had been eliminated thanks to the country's health measures.

    The particular strain of the bird flu which had appeared in Colombia was the H9 type, which is not fatal.

    The deadly H5N1 strain of the bird flu has killed at least 71 Asians, most of whom were in Vietnam and had worked in close contact with infected birds.

    No cases of the deadly virus have been reported in either American continent. Enditem