Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.3 / Trend U. Ismaylova /
EDITOR's NOTE: comments by the State Veterinary Service deputy head added
No poultry were found to be infected with the H5N1 virus ("bird flu") in the Samukh region in western Azerbaijan, First Deputy Chief of the Samukh Region Executive Power Tahir Garayev said today.
"Poultry deaths were observed over a certain period, but this is a natural process that takes place periodically," Garayev said.
According to the official, no poultry deaths were related to the "bird flu" virus.
According to the deputy head of the State Veterinary Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Emin Shahbazov, the State Service has not revealed the H5N1 ("bird flu") virus in the country.
"Bird death cases happen periodically. However, the facts of infection with the H5N1 virus in the republic's territory is not revealed at present," Shahbazov said.
According to him, at present the monitoring is being held in Absheron, Davachi, Lankaran and other regions. Starting from Dec. 4, during four days the monitoring will be held in Samukh, Shamkir, Goygol and other nearby regions.
Laboratory analysis of samples taken during the monitoring will take about one week, Shahbazov said.