Outbreaks of bird flu are spreading to more European countries, as new reported cases in Germany and Switzerland are triggering a swift response.

One case of bird flu was confirmed in Germany on Saturday. 30,000 chickens on one farm will be culled. The state's agriculture ministry said an area of 3 square kilometers had been sealed off.

Germany has set up a crisis management desk in Berlin. A second outbreak in Austria near the German and Swiss borders is expected to be confirmed on Monday.

The H5N8 virus has also been found in Hungary, Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark and Croatia, as well as in dead birds along Lake Geneva in Switzerland.