PARIS, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) confirmed on Wednesday the first case of the highly pathogenic type of H5N1 avian influenza in Cote d'Ivoire, where 17 infected birds were found in the Abidjan area.

    The Paris-based world animal body cited two separated outbreaks of bird flu in the Western African country which affected seven backyard chickens, nine ducks and a sparrow hawk.

    Ivorian officials said they had undertaken measures to cull some birds, quarantine the infected area and restrict poultry movements in the country.

    Cote d'Ivoire was the sixth country in Africa to report the disease, the first being Nigeria where bird flu was discovered on February 8. Other infected African countries include Egypt, Niger, Cameroon and Sudan. Enditem