STOCKHOLM, March 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Eight new cases of H5 bird flu were detected in Sweden at weekend, the Swedish Board of Agriculture said Monday.

    Tests carried out on 31 wild birds found dead along Sweden's south-eastern coast revealed that eight tufted ducks were carryingwhat appeared to be a highly pathogenic strain of H5 bird flu virus.

    The eight new cases of H5 were discovered in close proximity tothe spot in Oskarshamn where two tufted ducks were found and tested positive for the virus last Tuesday.

    Researchers have yet to determine whether the Swedish ducks died from the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu, which in its most aggressive form has killed 100 people worldwide.

    Decisive test results are expected back from a British laboratory early this week.

    If the virus does turn out to be the H5N1 strain, Sweden will be the ninth country in the 25-member European Union to be affected by the deadly virus. Enditem