Hundreds of thousands of geese and ducks are being vaccinated against bird flu in France. The campaign, focused on birds farmed in a southwestern area, comes after France became the first country in the EU to report an outbreak in commercial poultry.

Two days on and around 20 countries have imposed a total or partial embargo on French poultry or foie gras.

Elsewhere on the continent the spread among wild birds continues. Bosnia and Georgia have discovered H5N1 in wild swans. Authorities in Switzerland are awaiting test results, amid fears the deadly strain has arrived there.

Veterinary experts from dozens of mostly European countries are meeting in Paris to try to find a common strategy.

But, with migratory birds spreading the disease, Bernard Vallat of the World Organisation for Animal Health, explained that the problem must be understood on a global level.

He said that just one inefficient country puts the rest of the world in danger.

As Swiss officials calmed for calm, bird flu was reported in a second West African country, Niger. Back in Europe, Germany is battling against the problem, with experts warning members of the public not to touch sick or dead birds.

PHOTO CAPTION