VACCINATION OF CATTLE IN THE AREA OF PCINJ AND JABLANICA DISTRICTS BEGINS ON MONDAY, JUNE 20

16. June 2016.

Belgrade - The European Commission approved to Serbia 50,000 doses of vaccines against the “lumpy skin” animal disease, while the vaccination of cattle in the territory of Pcinj and Jablanica districts, which had been declared infected areas, would begin on Monday, June 20, said Dragan Glamocic, the Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia and the Head of the governmental Operational Headquarters for coordinating the implementation of measures for preventing, combating and eradicating the lumpy skin disease (nodular dermatitis).

He said that the Government of the Republic of Serbia had adopted a decree on an emergency import, thereby enabling the launching of a public procurement procedure for another 400,000 vaccines against that animal disease, while the vaccination of cattle by those newly imported doses could begin in 10 to 15 days.

“The Government of the Republic of Serbia has, thus, undertaken all the measures within its power. We, along with members of the Interior Ministry, will, until then, supervise the transport of cattle on control checkpoints, so that the disease wouldn’t spread to other parts of Serbia”, Mr. Glamocic said.

He called on the farmers in Serbia to immediately contact the competent veterinary stations if they noticed any signs of the "lumpy skin" disease in cattle, so that prevention measures could be undertaken quickly, pointing out that the incubation period of the disease lasted for 28 days.

"Farmers shouldn’t be afraid of killing their cattle, as they shall be compensated for the damage. The Government of the Republic of Serbia has provided the funds if that should happen, and the appropriate amounts shall be paid to them, so that they will be able to purchase new cattle after the infection passes," Mr. Glamocic said.

Source: “Tanjug” news agency, “Politika” daily, Radio and Television of Serbia and Coordination Body