Five teams set up to check bird flu cases

LUCKNOW: Taking precautionary measures against bird flu incidence, district administration will start sampling of birds in city birds markets.

In case any case is detected, then district level officers will seal the area. Emergency contact numbers have also been issued to report any bird deaths in city. Five surveillance teams have been constituted under district magistrate. The team will be led by chief development officer, chief veterinary officer, regional forest officer, chief medical officer and district panchayat adhikari. The teams will inspect bird markets and take samples to identify any bird flu (avian influenza) infection. The samples will be sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) laboratory Izzatnagar, Bareilly.

If any sample tests positive, then the area from which sample had been taken would be kept under surveillance and arrival of birds will be restricted.

Chief medical officer has also launched two emergency contact numbers to report bird deaths. People can report any bird deaths on 18001804151, 05222741997 and 05222741992.

According to district administration officials, the preventive measure will be taken due to changing climate and ongoing cases of fever.