PARIS - The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus has killed 15 wild swans in southeastern France, agriculture officials said Sunday, raising fears the lethal strain could spread in the European Union's leading producer of poultry.

The news of the dead swans came a day after French authorities confirmed that a nearby turkey farm of more than 11,000 birds had been contaminated — the European Union's first outbreak of deadly bird flu in commercial poultry.

The dead swans were found around the numerous ponds that dot the southeast area.

注释：

1、deadly：adj. 致命的
2、bird flu：禽流感
3、virus：n. 病毒
4、lethal：adj. 致命的
5、European Union：欧洲联盟，简称欧盟，是在欧洲共同体基础上发展而来的，总部设在比利时首都布鲁塞尔。欧洲共同体包括欧洲煤钢共同体、欧洲原子能共同体和欧洲经济共同体，其中以欧洲经济共同体最为重要。
6、poultry：n. 家禽
7、outbreak：n. （疾病的）发作、（战争的）爆发