A man living in East Jerusalem was being tested for bird flu on Monday, Israel Radio reported.

Citing sources in Jerusalem's Hadassah Hospital, the radio said that the man, who has been treated for symptoms similar to bird flu infection, was quarantined and undergoing tests for the deadly disease.

The man, coming from a village in East Jerusalem, had raised a number of poultry, some of which had recently died, the radio reported.

Results of the tests are expected to come in several hours.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has so far killed over 70 people since late 2003.

Experts fear that the highly contagious virus could mutate into a human strain that might cause a worldwide pandemic, killing millions.

Recent bird flu outbreaks in Turkey have already killed three people and 19 others have been confirmed of infection, putting the region on high alert of the disease.

Source: Xinhua