Serbia says H5N1 bird flu strain found in swan

BELGRADE, Mar 9 (Reuters) Serbia today confirmed its first case of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu in a swan found last week in the northern Sombor region, close to the Croatian border.

The head of Serbia's veterinary directorate, Dejan Krnjaic, said the result was confirmed by a reference laboratory in Weybridge, Britain. He said another swan found dead in western Serbia was also assumed to have had H5N1.

In both cases, areas within a 10 km (6 mile) radius of where the swans were found have been declared risk zones and veterinarians were monitoring all wild fowl within it. All domestic poultry in Serbia was being kept indoors.

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