The Animal Husbandry Department in the district is awaiting a notification from the Union Government for establishing a check-post along the Mysore National Highway in the wake of an alert sounded across Karnataka on outbreak of bird flu. Though the outbreak was at a village in Bidar district in the northernmost tip of Karnataka adjoining Maharashtra, precautionary steps have already been taken in Erode district to prevent entry of birds. Karnataka government has decided to cull 1.5 heads of chicken in and around the affected farm to prevent outbreak of avian influenza (H5N1) virus. The Department has issued instructions to Veterinarians throughout the district to monitor poultries.