The Institute of Public Health has said that the discovery of a swan infected with the H5 strain of bird flu virus has not increased the risk of infection among people.
There is no need for panic: all nine people that have come into contact with the dead swan have already been given the antiviral drug Oseltamivir, Alenka Kraigher, the head of the institute's Centre for Communicable Diseases, told the press on Monday.
Avian flu is a bird disease which transfers to people extremely rarely and only after a prolonged exposure to infected poultry, Kraigher said.
She nevertheless urged people to avoid contact with wild birds and call the appropriate authorities in case they find a dead bird.
According to her, the delivery of antiviral drugs is proceeding as planned in accordance with an agreement between the Ministry of Health and the producer.
Meanwhile, the European Commission said it would confirm the measures that the Slovenian authorities have taken. The measures were formally confirmed on Monday, Commission spokesman Philip Tod told the press.
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