PRAGUE, Feb. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- The laboratory in Weybridge, Britain,Friday confirmed the lethal H5N1 bird flu virus in two birds whichwere recently found dead in Slovakia, Slovak Agriculture Ministry spokeswoman Katarina Czajlikova said.

    Slovak veterinaries confirmed the virus on Thursday already.

    A dead smew was found on the premises of the Slovnaft refinery in Bratislava and a dead peregrine falcon was uncovered near the Danube River at Gabcikovo, south Slovakia.

    Strict safety measures have been in force within a three-kilometre range of the two sites.

    Veterinary measures were tightened throughout the country as soon as the first suspicion of bird flu appeared.

    All poultry must be consistently kept inside buildings and any breach of the measures will result in the killing of the poultry concerned without title to a financial compensation.

    The veterinary institute in Zvolen, central Slovakia, is now checking samples of other birds in which the infection is suspected. Enditem