A dead duck found in southeastern France may have contracted the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the Agriculture Ministry said Friday.

Tests on the wild duck found in the Ain region showed it had the H5 subtype and further tests were being conducted, the ministry said.

If confirmed, it would be the first case of bird flu in the country where the government has ordered to keep all poultry and tame birds indoors to prevent the spread from wild birds.

The deadly H5N1 virus has been found across the European continent, with confirmed cases in Germany, Greece, Italy, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraine and Russia.

Source: Xinhua