Bird flu reported in Kozhikode

Preventive steps against bird flu are being taken in Kozhikode district after the infection was reported in Panangad, Kakkodi, Olavanna and Perumanna grama panchayats and Nallalam area in the Kozhikode Corporation.

A release said on Thursday that H5N1 strain of the avian influenza had been detected in the samples collected from the affected areas. Rapid response teams are being deployed in these place to cull the birds. Officials said the infection had not spread to human beings so far, but a high alert had been sounded.