The Russian Interior Ministry is taking various measures to prevent a spread of the bird flu virus detected in the outskirts of Moscow, Deputy Interior Minister Alexander Chekalin said on Monday.

As part of the measures, the Interior Ministry has ordered local police to work closely and share information with government departments and to immediately report any suspected bird flu case, said Chekalin.

Meanwhile, police authorities have consulted with heads of local hunting and fishery organizations, and have asked hunters and fishermen to report on the bird flu cases they have encountered, Chekalin said.

In the countryside, local police have been asked to teach villagers about the bird flu virus and the grave consequences related to the deadly virus, he said.

Moreover, traffic police have been entrusted with the task of monitoring vehicles of poultry, and they can now ask the sanitary department to conduct a check on any vehicle if needed, he said.

Police are closely monitoring live poultry at public facilities such as ports, airports and bus stations, Chekalin added.

The measures came after Russian officials said earlier that the deadly Asian strain of H5N1 bird flu virus had been detected on farms in the outskirts of Moscow.

Earlier reports said that the virus was brought in by chicken bought from a Moscow bird market. So far the virus has killed 150 chicken in the affected area.

Source: Xinhua