The spokesman for the Croatian Agriculture Ministry, Mladen Pavic announced on Sunday evening that Croatia would ban the import and transport of poultry and poultry products coming from the neighbouring Slovenia. The ban takes effect on Monday.
The spokesman told Hina last night that the same measures would be applied on poultry from other countries which recently reported the appearance of avian influenza among birds or poultry on their territory. This referred to Italy, Bulgaria and Greece.
In addition to the ban, Croatia will step up protective measures at border crossings and intensify the control of passengers and goods so as to prevent the import of foodstuffs of animal origin.
The Slovene Veterinary Administration (VURS) confirmed on Sunday that Slovenia had logged the first case of bird flu among wild birds.
VURS director Vida Cadonic Spelic told Slovene Radio that Saturday's analysis of one of two swans found dead on the Drava River near the northeastern city of Maribor on Thursday showed the presence of the H5 bird flu virus. She added samples of both birds would be sent to Weybridge laboratory in Great Britain on Monday for additional tests.