Ljubljana - Slovenian veterinary authorities have confirmed the third case of bird flu (H5N1) this week in a swan that was found dead in the Hoče-Slivnica municipality in east Slovenia.

The new case comes three days after the first case of the year was reported in domestic poultry in the Slovenska Bistrica municipality, which neighbours Hoče-Slivnica, and two days after the second case was reported in a dead swan in a settlement in Slovenska Bistrica.

The Food Safety, Veterinary and Plant Protection Administration said it had imposed a 3-km protection around the original site and a 10-km containment zone.

The containment zone covers some of the largest poultry breeders in Slovenia.