The number of bird flu hotbeds in Romania rose to 121 across the country over the past 24 hours, five more than on Wednesday, with suspicious cases reported in the counties of Prahova, Arges and Bacau, according to Government spokeswoman Oana Marinescu.

Of the 121 hotbeds, 117 have been dealt with, according to authorities in Bucharest.

Meanwhile, investigative teams check the route of the residue collected from the chicken farms in Codlea, the first spot in the new wave of bird flu cases that have hit Romania.

The move comes after media reports that large quantities of residue have been missing, a day before Romania is due to present an updated situation of the bird flu crisis to European authorities in Brussels.