NEW DELHI, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- A federal government team has arrived in the southern Indian state of Kerala to assess the situation regarding avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, officials said Wednesday.
The team visited the state's Alappuzha district, about 154 km north of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala.
Officials reported that avian flu cases have been identified in 16 locations throughout the district, prompting the implementation of comprehensive preventive measures to contain the outbreak and prevent further spread.
To curb the disease, approximately 41,000 birds have been culled in two phases.
Last month, avian influenza was also confirmed among crows in several villages of Alappuzha. Following the detection, the health department has issued an advisory urging the public to exercise caution while using water from open water sources. ■
