Slovak officials announced Tuesday the "suspicion" of the dangerous H5N1 virus in two wild birds whose remains were found about 35 kilometers apart near the Danube River, dpa reported. The grebe and falcon tested positive for the H5 virus and will now be tested at a British laboratory for the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, said Dr. Martin Chudy, director of the State Veterinary and Food Administration (SVPS) Director Martin Chudy. "H5N1 is not confirmed," Chudy said. "It is only a suspicion." A state lab in Zvolen made the initial finding Monday night after testing the birds found in the river valley near Bratislava and Dunajska Streda. Officials have sealed off 3-kilometre zones around the sites where the birds were found and taken other precautions, Chudy said. On Monday, Agriculture Minister Zsolt Simon said 30 dead birds found recently had tested negative for avian flu, which is spreading in Europe and forcing costly restrictions to protect poultry and humans. Birds with the H5 virus were found last week in Hungary and Austria, which share the Danube with Slovakia. In recent weeks the more serious H5N1 strain, which can kill people, has been found among wild birds in Germany, Bulgaria and Greece.
