The Department of Animal Husbandry has cautioned the public and poultry owners to take preventive measures against bird flu which has been reported in many parts of the State.

In a release here, Deputy Director of the department Raju Deshmukh said that the avian influenza virus is caused by bird flu.

Avian influenza is found in various types of poultry, including farm chicken, turkey, quail, peacock, duck and swan.

The infected birds die suddenly, watering through mouth, nose, eyes, and feet. The portion below their knee will turn blue. The virus may pass onto human body if a person comes into contact with infected chicken without wearing proper face masks and gloves, he said.

Poultry owners and workers should take precautions while receiving feed from outside.

They should sanitise feed to disinfect them and the workers should wear masks and hand gloves when they engage in work, Mr. Deshmukh said and added that the general public should inform the department if they find a dead bird.

For more information, the public or poultry owners should contact the following phone numbers given here: Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry Department 9880492380, Assistant Director in Yadgir 9448651212, Assistant Director in Gurmitkal 9611546399, Assistant Director in Shorapur 9449998671, Assistant Director in Sahapur 9448651169, Assistant Director in Wadagera 9972555636 and Assistant Director in Hunsagi 7760305412.