November 6, 2006

India steps up surveillance to prevent bird flu

The Indian government Friday (Nov 3) said it has stepped up surveillance in vulnerable regions for the early detection and prevention of bird flu in case of fresh outbreak though the country is free of the disease since August this year.

"More the 73,000 samples have been tested since the first outbreak of bird-flu in February," a government statement said.

In February this year, an outbreak of bird flu was reported in India that killed several thousand birds and resulted in the culling of around 1 million birds.

Migratory birds which visit India each winter are considered to be a likely source of bird flu. India's winter season lasts from November to February.

Between February and March 2006, 33 countries reported bird flu. Most of these countries are part of the route these migratory birds take at that time of the year.

"The country is fully prepared to control bird flu," the statement said.