Egypt has quarantined some 13,000turkey chicks from Germany because of a suspected outbreak of bird flu, the official MENA news agency reported Wednesday.

The turkey chicks entered Egypt early this month and samples from them have been sent to Egypt's Animal Health Research Institute.

The chicks are now being put under strict observation pending a final report that is to be issued within hours, said MENA.

Avian influenza, an infectious disease of birds, is caused by type A strains of the influenza virus and was first identified in Italy more than 100 years ago.

It occurs worldwide since all birds are thought to be susceptible to infection with avian influenza, though some species are more resistant to infection than others.