A Spanish laboratory has confirmed the country´s first case of H5N1 bird flu after analyzing a sample taken from a wild migratory water bird, the Agriculture Ministry said on Friday.

"The National Reference Laboratory has confirmed a case of highly pathogenic H5N1 type bird flu," said the Agriculture Ministry in a news release.

The great crested grebe was found in the northern province of Alava and was sent to the National Reference Laboratory on Thursday, the ministry said.

With cases in Italy and other European countries, experts had said it was only a matter of time before Spain also confirmed it had found an infected bird.

The country has already enforced rules to cover poultry being bred close to many wetlands areas, to prevent contact between migrating birds and domestic fowl.

The Madrid region has ordered all poultry farms to enclose their birds, whether close to wetlands or not, and others may follow suit. But many smallholders in villages also keep chickens unregistered in their backyards.