09/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - At its meeting on Wednesday 8 September, the EU Standing Committee of Food Chain and Animal Health took stock of the recent spread of West Nile virus infection in the European Union (Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Romania). In a press release, the European Commission recommends member states increase vigilance against an illness which has already caused several deaths in the south of Europe. The standing committee also delivered a positive opinion on Community co-funding (of €2.3 million in 2010) of a wildlife oral vaccination plan against rabies in North-East Italy. It endorsed, too, a Commission proposal to allow the transit of poultry meat and poultry meat products from the Russian Federation through the European Union. (O.J./transl.rt)