KUZMIĆ: MONITORING OF ALL FARMS IN SRPSKA IN THE COMING DAYS

BANJA LUKA, March 2 /SRNA/ – The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republika Srpska, Anđelka Kuzmić, announced that in the coming days all farms in Srpska will be monitored following the outbreak of avian influenza in Petrovo, adding that the Ministry will assist in compensating damages caused by the disease.

Kuzmić confirmed that avian influenza was detected at one parent flock farm in the municipality of Petrovo.

"For the past three days, together with the Inspectorate, the Crisis Response Headquarters of the Municipality of Petrovo, and our veterinarians, we have been working to contain the problem to prevent the disease from spreading," Kuzmić told the press in Banja Luka.

She added that in the coming days monitoring will be carried out not only of nearby farms but also of all other farms across Republika Srpska to prevent a wider outbreak.

"Such situations have happened before, such as during the African swine fever outbreak. It is not easy for the affected farmers, nor for the Ministry. However, we will once again provide assistance in compensating damages in order to maintain stability in this sector," Kuzmić said.

She noted that all relevant services are on the ground, that there is no reason for panic, and that biosecurity measures in Srpska are at a high level.

"Additional caution is simply required since the disease has appeared in Srpska," Kuzmić said.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Srpska announced on Saturday, February 28, that avian influenza had been confirmed at a poultry farm in the settlement of Karanovac, the municipality of Petrovo.