Udupi : Deputy Commissioner Dr Vishal R has directed officials to take all precautionary measures to prevent the spreading of bird flu in the district.

At a meeting convened to discuss the implications of bird flu here, he said suspicious cases should be handled cautiously. A team comprising District Health Department officials and the District Veterinary Department officials has been set up to look into the emergency measures, he added.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Ser-vices has taken an initiative for testing the blood of the chickens to ascertain the symptoms of the infection, if any. The blood testing is done every month. So far, bird flu cases have not been reported in the district. The measures are taken in the primary health centres across the district. Poultry farms are being regularly inspected, he said.

He directed all poultry farm owners to properly dispose of their waste and also ensure safety to the workers in the poultry farms against the infection.

The deputy commissioner said the district health officer and the Animal Husbandry department head should immediately inform the district administration over the cases of the bird flu reported in the district.

He directed the officials to keep required medicine in store. Adequate treatment facilities should be made available at all the district and taluk hospitals. The treatment facilities are also available at KMC, Manipal, he said.