A Food and Agriculture Organization expert says the bird flu found in North Korea is not the same viral strain that previously killed dozens of people in Asia.

FAO virus expert Hans Wagner, who arrived in China Wednesday after wrapping up a week-long visit to North Korea, said he found no evidence of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which is very dangerous to humans.

Speaking from Beijing, Mr. Wagner said more tests are needed to fully identify the virus and determine how contagious it is to poultry.

Wagner also said tests in the North revealed traces of the H7 virus, saying it was the first time for it to be found in East Asia, outside of its emergence last year in Pakistan. He says an FAO team will remain in North Korea to assay how the strain reached the country.

Wagner also said some 219 thousand birds have been killed and buried in three poultry farms located within a 5-kilometer radius of Pyongyang.

Wagner visited North Korea last week with two other FAO experts from China and Australia to inspect Pyongyang's efforts to contain the virus.