A cat was found dead of the H5N1 strain of bird flu in Germany, as the deadly disease spread to the fifth state Tuesday.

The dead cat was found near a ferry on the northern island of Ruegen where nearly 120 of the country's 130 cases of bird flu have been detected.

The animal might have died after eating infected birds, experts said.

Two more new cases of bird flu were reported Tuesday in wildfowl in Bavaria, the fifth German states affected since the disease first reported in Germany early this month.

Health and agriculture officials in the country continue to warn the public not to touch dead animals to avoid infection.

Source: Xinhua