Ministerial Decree No. 4920/131279 establishing the West Nile Fever Surveillance Program for equidae and wild birds. Country/Territory Greece Document type Regulation Date 2012 Source FAO, FAOLEX Original source Efimeris tis Kyverniseos No. 26, Part II, 10 January 2013, pp. 699-720. Subject Livestock, Wild species & ecosystems Keyword Animal health Birds Data collection/reporting Pests/diseases Equine-animals Wild fauna Geographical area Europe, Europe and Central Asia, European Union Countries, Mediterranean, Southern Europe Entry into force notes The Decree shall enter into force as from the day of its publication on the Official Gazette. Abstract With the present Decree are laid down detailed rules for the implementation of the West Nile Fever Surveillance Program for equidae and wild birds in the national territory of Greece. The technical details for the implementation of the Program are laid down in Annexes A, B, G and D to this Decree. Aim of program is the investigation of the West Nile Fever epidemic outbreak that occurred in the country in the summer of 2010, and continued throughout 2012, on human population, equidae and wild birds so as to determine: a) what the likely origin and the reservoirs of the virus may be, specially regarding wild birds; b) the geographic regions of country that constitute regions of high danger, the regions where the disease it is likely to become endemic because of the virus persistence on indigenous populations of wild birds and the regions where inconspicuous infection occurs (presence of the virus without clinical cases on persons or animals). By evaluating the results of the monitoring Program as well as any other available relevant information (i.e. information on insect-monitoring), the competent authority for the West Nile Virus Surveillance might assess the exact geographic extent of the outbreak and will be able to adapt accordingly the existing measures of monitoring, control and prevention of the disease so as to ensure public health and animal welfare. Full text Greek Website www.et.gr