The European Commission said on Sunday that it was informed by the Slovenian authorities of a confirmed case of H5 bird flu virus in a swan.

The Slovenian Laboratory for Avian influenza has made the initial analysis, and samples have been sent to the EU Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza in Weybridge of Britain for further tests.

According to the European Union (EU) head office, the Slovenian authorities immediately applied the same precautionary measures as those set out in the Commission Decision adopted for Greece on Friday and applied in Italy during the weekend.

The measures being implemented by Slovenia include the establishment of a high-risk area (a 3-km protection zone) around the area where the swan was found, and a surrounding surveillance zone of 10 km.

The Slovenian authorities are also in close contact with their Austrian counterpart, since the 10-kilometer surveillance area surpasses their border.

The avian influenza situation in Italy, Greece, Slovenia and other affected countries will be reviewed by the EU Standing Committee on the Food and Chain and Animal Health next week.

Analysts warned that with a large number of birds migrating into EU countries, the battle to prevent the virus from spreading to poultry stocks and humans there would be difficult.

Source: Xinhua