THE HAGUE, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Netherlands has ordered the culling of around 120,000 chickens at a poultry farm in the northern province of Friesland after a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu was detected, the agriculture ministry announced on Friday night.

To prevent further spread of the virus, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) will cull all birds at the site in the village of Drogeham.

A transport ban has been imposed immediately within a 10-km radius region, covering the movement of poultry, eggs, manure, and used bedding.

Another poultry farm located 1 km from the infected site is being tested for bird flu and will be intensively monitored for 14 days, while three other farms within 3 km are being screened, according to the statement.

The outbreak comes as the Netherlands had already imposed a national housing order for poultry since Oct. 16, requiring all commercial farms to keep birds indoors and non-commercial owners to take measures to prevent contact with wild birds.