Bird flu was identified as the cause of death of the 21 pelicans, which were found dead in Bulgaria's Srebarna nature reserve on Tuesday.

This emerged after the samples, which had been taken from two of the dead birds, were examined by the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency (BABH).

In order to prevent the spread of the disease, BABH had taken the necessary measures by introducing a 3-kilometre preventive and 10-kilometre monitored zones.

The preventive zone includes the territory of the Srebarna nature reserve and the nearby village of Srebarna.

The 10-kilometre monitored zone encompasses the villages Vetren, Aydemir, Polkovnik Lambrinovo, Popina, Polyana and the town of Sitovo.

This is the second case of bird flu registered in Bulgaria in the past two months, the first one involving a dead pelican near Burgas at the end of January.

The life and health of the population is not threatened and poultry is monitored with heightened attention as the disease can spread to humans through the consumption of infected meat.

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