The deadly H5N1 strain of avian flu has been confirmed in a sample taken from a bird from northern Cyprus, the European Commission said on Sunday.

"The European Commission and the Turkish authorities have been informed by the Community Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza at Weybridge of the high pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in a sample taken from the area not under the effective control of the government of Cyprus," the European Union´s executive said in a statement.

It said it had banned the import of live animals or animal products from the Turkish Cypriot enclave into the EU.