The situation in two villages in Vojvodina that have been declared anthrax-infected zones is under control and there is minimum possibility for the spread of the disease, Maja Andrijasevic of the Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary Directorate said Friday.

“Citizens can feel absolutely positive that everything they eat and drink is safe,” Andrijasevic said in connection with the current situation in the villages of Bocar and Novo Milosevo that have been declared anthrax-infected zones.

Andrijasevic said that from the moment the disease had been diagnosed, the relevant veterinary service, veterinary institute and the competent veterinary inspection were out there in the field and implementing prescribed measures.

The implementation of control measures is still under way, she added.

The disease is usually related to veterinarians, as they are more likely to get into contact with an infected animal, while the rest of the population is safe and there is minimum possibility for the spread of the disease, Andrijasevic said for the Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS).

As regards the current ban on eating milk and meat from the animals in the two villages, she said that vaccination of the animals was underway, during which time cattle must not be slaughtered for meat or their milk used for human consumption.

Commenting on the data that anthrax appeared in the region already in mid-1970's, she said anthrax bacteria spores lied dormant in the soil for 30 to 60 years and could become active under conditions such as heavy rainfall, flooding or drought.

Andrijasevic said that the vaccination would be carried out in the two villages over the following 20 years, enough to protect the population and animals there from infection.

She recalled that cases of anthrax infections had been registered in Tutin, southern Serbia, in 2007, and that the necessary actions were being taken there as well.