The first suspected case of bird flu in Serbia has been reported, much to the concern of the health officials. Domestic poultry across the Bosnian border has been suspected of carrying the deadly H5N1 virus.
One rooster and one swan near Bajina Basta, in the eastern Serbian region have been found to show symptoms of bird flu. Samples from the suspected animals have been sent to testing laboratory in Britain to confirm the suspicion, said Dejan Krnjaic, Head, Serbia’s veterinary directorate.In line with the bird flu threat, 176 chickens, 371 hens and roosters, four ducks and two cats have been culled. This precautionary measure adopted in some 32 households is believed to reduce the chances of bird flu transmission, if any.
Stringent monitoring and regulations have been enforced by the veterinary authority to avoid any bird flu outbreak. The farmers have been instructed to keep all their domestic poultry indoors, based on recommendations of the European Union.
The avian influenza virus has already been detected in countries surrounding Serbia that includes Hungary, Romania, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
