A veterinary worker unload turkeys into a skip at a large poultry farm where preliminary tests showed presence of H5N1 bird flu virus in village of Tisova, Czech Republic, 21 Jun 2007

Health authorities have confirmed that hundreds of turkeys on a farm in the Czech Republic have died from the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu.

A government spokesman says the discovery, announced Thursday, marks the first time the virus has been detected in Czech poultry.

He said 1,800 of 6,000 turkeys on the quarantined farm in the center of the country had so far died. He said the rest will be slaughtered.

The illness has not been detected in any humans in the region.

The World Health Organization says 190 people worldwide have died from the virus since the outbreak began in 2003. Most of those deaths occurred in Asia.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

.