Italy reported an outbreak of highly infectious H5N8 bird flu in backyard birds in the center of the country, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) said on Tuesday.
The virus was detected in two grey crowned cranes kept in a private garden in Lugo, the OIE said, citing a report of the Italian ministry of Health.
Twelve birds kept in the private garden in Lugo were killed because of the outbreak, it said.
Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, has been spreading rapidly in Europe. Tens of millions of birds have been murdered by humans in previous outbreaks.