TN takes precautionary measures against bird flu

In the wake of reports of incidence of bird flu in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu governmenttoday ordered officials to take preventive measures to ensure that the disease did not spread to the state.
Animal Husbandry Minister Balakrishna Reddy, who held a review meeting with department officials here, directed them to take up preventive measures, including setting up of check posts at district borders, besides sending back vehicles carrying chicken and eggs, an official release said.
The Ministry has also sought the support of other departments including health and family welfare, district administration, Southern Railway and Forest department in this connection, it said.

All District Collectors are directed to take adequate preventive measures to protect against spread of the virus, the release said.
Monitoring of chicken farms is being conducted on a daily basis while a control room has also been set up in the office of Animal Husbandry, it added.
Earlier this month, Karnataka had sounded the bird flu alert after it confirmed that the avian influenza (H5N1) virus caused the death of thousands of chickens in a farm in Bidar district and ordered culling of about 1,30,000 chickens there.