Already in October, the Iraqi government banned the import of live birds and poulty from Turkey.

"We had already taken measures, but following the recent cases in Turkey we have bolstered them, by stopping the sale of live chickens," Kurdistan's regional agricultural chief, Azad Ezzedin, told AFP.

Hunting has also been banned in the region, and all vehicles crossing from Turkey must have their tires sprayed with disinfectant, he added.

UN experts warned Wednesday that the flu, which recently killed at least two people in Turkey, now threatens nearby countries.

The toll from the highly infectious H5N1 strain of bird flu has climbed to 78 people worldwide.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said Wednesday that the virus may be spreading even as Turkey slaughters 306,000 birds to halt its advance.

It warned neighbouring Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Iran and Syria to be on high alert.

Turkey shares a border with Iraqi Kurdistan.