February 7, 2007

Veterinarians to vaccinate 40,000 poultry in northwestern Russia

Veterinarians will vaccinate 40,000 poultry against bird flu at private households in the northwestern Arkhangelsk region when the weather gets warmer, a source at Russia's agriculture department told Itar-Tass.

Over 55,000 doses of flu vaccines were in the local veterinary services' reserves since last year. This amount will be enough for the first vaccination in February-March, the chief regional veterinarian, Ivan Lochekhin, said.

In March-April poultry will be vaccinated for the second time with a new batch of vaccines before the spring migration of wild fowl is due from late April to early June.