Slovenia has sent samples of avian influenza H5 found in a swan to Britain for further tests to see if it is of the highly pathogenic variety, the European Commission said today.
"The Slovenian authorities today informed the European Commission of a confirmed case of avian influenza virus H5 in (a) swan," the Commission said.
Neighbouring Austria's health ministry said the Slovenian veterinary authorities had told Austria they had found the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the virus, but Slovenian authorities said they were only sure it was H5.
A Commission spokesman added: ""It is likely H5N1, but we don't have the confirmation from Weybridge yet."
The area where the swan was found is less than 10 km (6 miles) from the Austrian border, the Commission said.
The Commission said the Slovenian Laboratory for Avian Influenza made the first analysis and sent samples to the EU Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza in Weybridge, Britain.
Dead swans discovered in Greece, Italy and Bulgaria tested positive for the highly pathogenic version of the H5N1 strain of the virus on Saturday.
The Commission said Slovenia was taking similar measures to those three countries, including establishing a 3 km (2 mile) protection zone around the area where the swan was found and a surveillance zone of 10 km (6 miles).
Austria will confine poultry to cages within the Austrian part of the 10 km zone, the Austrian health ministry said.
"The Slovenian authorities are in close contact with their Austrian counterparts since the 10 km area crosses the Slovenian-Austrian border," the Commission said.