European Union (EU) veterinary experts urged here on Thursday the EU member states to take intensive surveillance against bird flu, but they believed the possibility of an immediate outbreak of the epidemic is "low" or " remote."

Since July, H5N1 avian influenza has swept some parts of Russia, triggering fear in Europe that the nightmare would spread to the continent one more time after a disastrous outbreak in 2003.

The Netherlands, which was deadly hit in 2003 with 23 million of poultry killed, on Monday ordered farmers to keep chickens indoors. Germany later announced similar directives effective early next month.

The European Commission (EC), the EU's executive body called up veterinary experts from all 25 member states to convene in Brussels on Thursday to address the issue.

"There was an extensive discussion on the possibility of the disease spreading into the EU via migratory birds that might pose a risk of spreading the virus. The group concluded that the immediate risk is probably remote or low," said EC spokesman Philip Tod.

However, the spokesman said the experts put forwards a number of "appropriate measures to guard against the possible spread of the deadly disease, which led to over 60 deaths in Southeast Asia and downfall of poultry industry in the region.

The measures include intensifying surveilance programs, increasing sampling on migratory waterfowl along the flyways, improving cooperation among EU member states, improving capacity for early detection and rapid action and controls of the EU's external borders.

Tod said Dutch experts explained to the meeting on Holland's ban, saying there are a lot of migratory wild birds in the country.

However, the meeting considered a general ban on keeping poultry outdoors to be a "disproportionate measure" at this time.

An additional meeting of the experts has been scheduled for early September, at which the EC will coordinate the intensified surveilance.

Source: Xinhua