The seventh case of bird flu has been confirmed in the Czech Republic after tests proved that a swan found dead at the weekend was infected with the H5 virus.

Jan Duben, the spokesman for the State Veterinary Authority, said on Tuesday that the swan that died in Tyn nad Vltavou, South Bohemia, was killed by bird flu virus.

A 10-kilometre zone will be established around the spot and special measures will be applied. Tests are underway on the remaining dead birds in the region, Duben said.

All previous cases of bird flu in the country have been detected in South Bohemia.

The Prague national reference laboratory is carrying out tests on a further six swans, Duben said, adding that it could not be ruled out that new cases of bird flu might appear.

Under the adopted measures, the towns and villages in the affected area are to collect and dispose of the dead birds.

Local authorities are equipped with containers for the collection of the dead birds that will be disposed of by special veterinary institutes. These measures will last for at least 21 days, said the spokesman.

On March 27, the European Union Reference Laboratory in Weybridge, Britain, confirmed the first case of the dangerous H5N1 strain in a dead swan in the Czech Republic.