Wednesday, March 15 2006 12:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jalgaon: Four villages in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra have been declared infected by bird flu, while 25 other villages are categorised as infected zones.

"The villages declared infected are Savda and Marul (Yawal taluka), Hated (Chopda), Salva (Dharangaon). Twenty five other villages in the district are declared as infected zones and 149 villages from six tehsils are under surveillance," District Collector Vijay Singhal told reporters here yesterday (Mar 14,2006) night.

Preventive measures have been taken in 174 villages to contain the spread of the disease, he said.

The outbreak was confirmed on the basis of reports from a Bhopal laboratory which found four of 26 samples positive for the birdflu.

Six tehsilsJalgaon, Dharangaon, Amalner, Chopda,Yawal and Shirpur tehsil of neighbouring Dhule district are under watch, district officials said.

About 70323 birds are to be culled today, w include 12591 from infected zone and 57732 are from surveillance zone, they said adding, 59 teams were formed for the operation.

Police has sealed borders and additional police force is being deployed in the infected villages.

Special wards would be set up at tehsil rural hospitals and the district administration has advised people not to eat chicken.