Greek Agricultural Development and Food Ministry officials reassured on Monday that no problem exists in Greece regarding the swine flu outbreak, adding that a situation similar to that during the past bird flu outbreak, when extensive harm was caused to the country's poultry sector, must not repeat.

According to the Athens News Agency, Deputy Agricultural Development and Food Minister Constantine Kiltidis and the ministry's Flu Supervision Committee President Spyros Kyriakis stressed at a meeting held at the ministry that Greece and the European Union in general are not in any immediate danger since, according to EU legislation, whatever imports of live pigs and pork from Mexico are forbidden.

Kiltidis underlined that the Greek government has taken all necessary measures to ensure that stockbreeding is safe and carried out in accordance with bio-security rules.

Kyriakis suggested calm, pointing out that Europe and Greece shall have no problem from this specific outbreak of the swine flu virus.

On the same day, Greek Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos visited medical services at Athens airport at noon, and was briefed by officials on preventive measures that are being taken and that concern passengers coming to Greece from regions where confirmed or possible swine flu cases have taken place.

The Athens airport will distribute free printed materials as well as the instructions that doctors are giving to passengers to contact the authorities in the event that they have any symptom related to swine flu within the first 10 days after their arrival in Greece.