BERLIN, Feb. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Germany found the first suspected case of the bird-flu virus, a spokeswoman for the Agriculture Ministry said Tuesday.

    Four dead swans were discovered on the Baltic island of Ruegen in the north of Germany, the spokeswoman told German news agency DPA, saying that preliminary tests have shown they might be the victims of the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

    On the same day, the German government said that it is planning to impose a ban on keeping poultry outdoors amid bird flu outbreakin Europe.

    Agriculture Minister Horst Seehofer said the ban would be effective since Feb 20, ten days earlier than originally planned as birds in Slovenia, Italy, Greece and Bulgaria have died from the H5Nl strain of bird flu.

    "The risk posed by migratory birds ... has increased," he said.

    German Public have been asked to watch out for dead poultry and report if they find dead birds.

    Across the globe, bird flu has inflicted numerous deaths of birds in many countries and infected more than 100 people. Among them 91 died. Enditem