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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Safety measures against bird-flu intensified on border with Croatia

Belgrade, 22 October 2005

Head of the epidemiology staff in the Veterinary Directorate of the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, Budimir Plavsic said today that following the news about the appearance of the bird-flu in Croatia, safety measures and controls have been intensified on the border.

Plavsic said in a statement to the agency Tanjug that the import and transit passage of live bird deliveries, poultry and poultry products is banned in Serbia.

According to Plavsic disinfection barriers have been set up on border crossings for automobiles entering Serbia through Croatia and deliveries of poultry and poultry products found on the border will be returned or destroyed.

The chief coordinator of the working group of the Serbian Ministry of Health set up to follow the development of the potential bird-flu epidemic, Dr. Predrag Kon, said today in a statement to Tanjug that the emergence of the bird-flu in neighbouring Croatia was to be expected, as it is expected to appear in wild migratory birds in Serbia.

Kon said that Serbia is prepared for the emergence of the disease; a working group has been formed that is continually busy in preparing all possible interventions that can be made in case the disease appears.

According to Kon at the present most of the work is to be done by veterinarians, veterinarian staff and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management within the framework provided by the Ministry of Health.