Mysuru:  With bird flu cases reported in Bengaluru, the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has taken precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the disease in city.

MCC Commissioner G. Jagadeesha has instructed the concerned officials to keep an eye on the poultry being brought to the city from other cities and States.

Speaking to Star of Mysore, Jagadeesha said that he had instructed the officials to visit chicken centres and poultry farms in city limits and conduct thorough checks.

The Department of Animal Husbandry has also taken measures to prevent the spread of the disease.

Deputy Director Dr. P.M. Prasad Murthy told SOM that the officials were collecting samples of droppings from various poultry farms in the district and the same were being sent to laboratory for tests.

“We have been conducting regular surveillance throughout the district. This apart, the poultry owners have been instructed to inform the Department in case of bird deaths”, he added.

The Mysuru Zoo has also been monitoring the birds with the Zoo workers spraying viral disinfectants near the bird enclosures to make sure the winged beauties are safe.

“Bird Flu mainly spreads through migratory birds. The chances of birds being infected with avian influenza is less in the Zoo as there are no migratory birds,” said Zoo Executive Director C. Ravishankar.

It may be recalled that the city Zoo was shut for a month from Jan. 4, 2017 after the lab reports had confirmed that six free-ranging and migratory birds had died due to avian influenza (H5N8) in Dec. 2016.