EU discusses Russian bird flu

European Union experts met Thursday to discuss concerns that an outbreak of bird flu in Russia could spread to Europe and what precautions the EU's 25 member nations should take.

The EU already has a ban in place on imports of Russian poultry, but officials indicated Thursday's meeting was unlikely to advise farmers across the bloc to bring chickens indoors, as the Netherlands has already done, according to the AP.

It will seek to heighten awareness of the potential risks however.

"Although no decisions are expected at this meeting, the meeting may adopt conclusions with recommendations on how to increase Europe's vigilance against avian influenza," said a statement of the EU Commission.

As Pravda.ru noted earlier, Russia's farm minister said Wednesday that bird flu, which has swept through part of Siberia, appears to be under control, even as another region reportedly registered a new case.