Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities said in Sarajevo on Monday that its first case of bird flu was confirmed after tests and a series of measures was taken to prevent the spread of the virus.

Jozo Bagaric, head of the Veterinary Office, told a press conference that H5 strain of bird flu virus was confirmed in two out of four swans found dead at Plivsko Jezero lake near the Midwestern Bosnian town of Jajce last week.

More than a dozen swans from their flock were shot dead at the weekend and land within a radius of three kilometers was cordoned off, said Bagaric, adding that more than 4,000 chicken from nearby households will be culled on Tuesday.

Samples had already been sent to the EU reference laboratory in Britain's Weybridge to determine whether it is the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus, said Bagaric, adding that results were expected by the week's end.

Bosnia-Herzegovina lies on one of the paths for migratory birds from central and northern Europe flying south. It had banned imports of live birds and poultry products from 17 countries after they reported cases of bird flu.

Source: Xinhua