Bird flu: TN on alert, Min orders steps to prevent oubreak

\ Chennai, Oct 26 (PTI) After reports of birds testing\positive for avian influenza AH5N8 emerged in States,\including neighbouring Kerala, Tamil Nadu Minister for Animal\Husbandry B Balakrishna Reddy today directed officials to take\immediate steps to prevent its outbreak in the State.\ Chairing a high level meeting in which top officials\participated, he directed officials to be on vigil on a 24×7\basis and set up check-posts in areas bordering other States.\ Vehicle checks should be carried out and disinfectants\should be sprayed on all vehicles entering the State, he told\officials.\ \\"Awareness should be created among poultry farmers of our\State to prevent buying poultry including chicken, ducks, and\eggs from Kerala,\\" he told officials, Tamil Nadu government\said in an official release.\ Poultry farmers should be trained on disease prevention\steps, and safety measures should be initiated in poultry\farms, he said.\ He further said District Collectors should hold meetings\to coordinate action among various departments as part of\measures to prevent the outbreak of bird flu.\ Birds in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala have tested\positive for avian influenza AH5N8, which according to the\World Health Organisation (WHO) is considered less risky of\being transmitted to humans.\ In view of bird flu scare in Delhi and other parts,\the Centre has set up a high-level committee to monitor the\situation and help state governments take steps to contain the\disease.\ Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is an\infectious viral disease of birds. Most avian influenza\viruses do not infect humans but some of them can cause\serious infections in people. PTI VGN RC\AMS\DK\