The Turkish Ministry of Agriculture reported Tuesday that some dead chickens had tested positive for an H5 variant of avian flu, and that parts of an eastern town had been put under quarantine.

The virus was found on Monday in samples taken from the town of Aralik, in the Igdir province bordering Armenia, where deaths of chickens have been reported in recent days, the ministry said statement said.

The authorities have culled about 360 chickens to prevent the virus from spreading, saying that all necessary measures were being taken.

The samples would be sent to laboratories in Europe to see if the virus is H5N1, the ministry also reported, adding that neighboring countries and international bodies would be notified.

It was thought that the virus had been brought to Turkey by birds migrating from the Caucasus region.