At its forty-third sitting, held on 14 March, the Agriculture Committee discussed and endorsed the Report of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management on measures taken to combat the spread of avian influenza (bird flu). The Committee also expressed its support for by-laws adopted by the appropriate Ministries. The sitting was chaired by Dr Zoran Masic, and attended by officials of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.

Dr Dejan Krnjaic, head of the Veterinary Medicine Directorate, informed the deputies of measures taken to combat bird flu taken by the Directorate in co-operation with the Government of the Republic of Serbia and the appropriate Ministries, and especially the Ministry of Health. He said that an active surveillance system had been set up, and that the appropriate services had been put on a state of increased alert to discover possible sources of infection and diagnose the illness as soon as possible. Double-layer quarantine zones have also been established in areas where infected birds were found; censuses have been made of households and domestic fowl, while animal health is being actively monitored and security measures implemented. Disinfectants have been supplied free of charge, and disinfecting posts are being set up in households across the region. Trade in domestic fowl has been suspended. Nine checkpoints have been set up in Backi Monostor, where the virus was initially discovered; inspections were also stepped up in the area.

Dr Krnjaic underlined that it was important to register domestic fowl to help prevent the spread of the virus; what is making this difficult is the number of households keeping small numbers of fowl for their own use only.

The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management are implementing measures in accordance with World Health Organisation recommendations. No cases have been registered so far in Serbia of the virus spreading to humans, the sitting heard.