Romania says three birds in its Danube Delta region have died of avian flu. Tests are being carried out to establish whether or not they were killed by the H5N1 strain of the virus that has proved lethal to humans.

Authorities have imposed a three-kilometre quarantine around the site of the outbreak, in the heart of Europe's largest wetlands.

Romania's agriculture minister said all domestic birds in the area would be culled to prevent the disease spreading. And medical teams were heading to the zone to test humans.

The news comes as officials from 80 countries met in Washington to work on plans to fight an eventual outbreak of bird flu. The World Health Organisation fears the H5N1 strain could create a pandemic claiming millions of lives.

Leavitt said he was heading to Asia which has seen the worst of the disease. Among ideas he will be taking with him to stop the problem at source is testing vaccines.

PHOTO CAPTION

A man handles his dove in Jakarta, Indonesia, an area of concern with regards to avian flu, in September 2005. (AFP)