Brussels, 05/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - The deadly H5N1 avian flu virus was the cause of death of three swans found dead on a lake in the French department of Moselle, the European Commission announced on Thursday 5 July after this had been confirmed by the French authorities. Surveillance and protection measures taken from 3 July 2007 in the zone concerned (observation and control areas around the lake) are therefore kept in place, the French Ministry of Agriculture says (EUROPE 9461). All owners of poultry or domestic birds throughout French national territory must therefore take the necessary precautions: - poultry and fowl must be kept confined in buildings to avoid entering into contact with live wild birds, and any events involving the gathering of poultry or birds, including pigeon racing, are prohibited. Furthermore, cases of the H5N1 virus, which has already been detected in Germany and in the Czech Republic, have now been detected in Austria on wild birds (in the district of Gmunden). (lc)