The first case of the lethal H5N1 bird flu virus was discovered in a swan found dead in northern Poland, the Polish television network TVP3 reported on Sunday.

A swan that was found dead two days ago on the banks of the Vistula River (in the northern city of Torun) was carrying the H5N1 virus, TVP3, reported, adding that the information has been unofficially confirmed by the head of the veterinary services.

Local veterinary authorities have set up a safety zone of a three km radius around the area where the swan was found, and more protective measures will be taken in the city soon, TVP3 said.

Polish government spokesman Konrad Ciesiolkiewicz on Sunday asked the public not to touch dead birds and the relevant authorities to be kept informed of the situation.

He also appealed to the media to "inform the public in a way that will not spark unnecessary panic," Poland's PAP news agency reported.

Neighboring Germany has reported several bird flu cases near the border during the past few days.

Polish veterinary officials have said Poland had been keeping strict surveillance on the border areas, ordering the poultry to be kept indoors.

Cases of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus, which has killed at least 92 people, mostly in Asia, since 2003, have been reported in eight EU countries -- Austria, Germany, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia.

Source: Xinhua