Azerbaijan detects no evidence of bird flu infection

Monitoring by the Veterinary Service under the Azerbaijan Agriculture Ministry, which began February 15, revealed no evidence of the bird flu infection in wild birds and poultry, the veterinary service reported.

"As part of monitoring, specialists conducted laboratory tests of pathological material samples taken from 24 wild birds and 1,272 poultry," the service said.

Monitoring was conducted on the Absheron peninsula, the districts of Devechi, Salyan, Agjabedi Lankaran of Azerbaijan, as well as in coastal areas.

Examination on the exposure of the infected birds with the "bird flu" have been held jointly by the Veterinary Services of the Azerbaijan Agriculture Ministry, the ministries of health, ecology and natural resources, as well as the society of hunters.

The Veterinary Service intends to continue monitoring in the future, taking into account the possible infection of local birds by migratory birds. The next monitoring to detect the virus will be start on March 29, during the migration period of birds.