GENEVA, March 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The Swiss authorities on Friday reported four more cases of avian flu, bringing the total number of H5 cases in wild birds to six.

    The Federal Veterinary Office in Bern said it expected further cases in the next few days as surveillance programs had been stepped up.

    The H5 virus was found in two dead ducks in a lakeside park in the city of Geneva, western Switzerland, a statement said.

    Another infected duck and a coot were registered on the Germanborder, in northern Switzerland.

    It is not yet known whether the latest cases belonged to the deadly H5N1 strain. The dead birds are being sent to a European Union laboratory in Britain for further tests.

    Bird flu has been spreading in countries around Switzerland over the past few days, notably in France and Germany.

    On Feb 26, the first suspected case involving a wild duck was discovered in Geneva. It was later confirmed to be the deadly H5N1 strain.

    A dead swan found earlier this week near the border of Germany was also confirmed to have the H5 virus, but final test results on the precise strain of this case of the virus will not come outuntil next week.

    So far no domestic fowl in Switzerland have tested positive for the disease. Enditem