'Avian influenza,' commonly known as bird flu, affects the humans with an influenza striking the lungs. "All our offices have been alerted to send samples of dead birds and fresh droppings," Dr K Udayavarman, additional director of the department said.
They had also been asked to trap migratory birds, if possible, and send them for testing.
Bird flu cases had so far not been detected in the state, but the department was being cautious, he said. As many chickens were being brought from neighboring states, the state had chances of the viral attack.
Consuming cooked chicken was safe as the virus could be destroyed at a temperature of 60 degree celsisus,
but handling live chickens could be dangerous if they are infected. The destinations of migratory birds in the state included Aakulam, Veli (Thiruvananthapuram), Purathur (Malappuram), Kadalundi (Kozhikode), Sasthamkotta, Kandachira, Ashtamudi (Kollam), Vembanad lake covering three districts, Kattampalli, Madakkara (Kannur) and Thattekkad bird sanctuary in Ernakulam.
The samples of chicken brought into the state were also being collected and sent to the Radical Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory at Bangalore for testing, he said.
