More than 1,000 poultry were found dead in Macedonia at the weekend, but experts played down fears that the deadly strain of bird flu had spread from nearby Turkey and Romania. The chickens and turkeys were discovered in the villages of Germijan and Mogila, some 200 kilometres (120 miles) southwest of Skopje, the capital of the former Yugoslav republic, the Dnevnik newspaper reported.
In addition, many pigeons were found dead in Tetovo, west of Skopje, the daily said without elaborating.
Macedonian authorities said there was "no reason to panic" despite the fact that the H5N1 virus that has killed more than 60 people in Asia had been confirmed in Turkey and Romania in recent days.
"The first results have shown the deaths were probably caused by (a common) 'bird plague' as the chickens were not properly vaccinated," said Nina Dimovska of the government's Veterinary Inspectorate.
Authorities were testing the dead poultry, with results expected within a few days, Dimovska added.
Another health official said authorities had implemented tough measures to prevent the spread of any disease.
Macedonia's government has formed two commissions overseeing measures to prevent any outbreak of bird flu.
