Inoculation procedures began on the Popov island near Vladivostok with a poultry stock of more than 1,500 chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys. Veterinaries have two days to complete the procedures there, the press service of the regional administration told Itar-Tass.

In several days, the Khankaisky, Khasansk, Nadezhdinsky, Khorolsky, Chernigovsky and Spassky districts, and the town of Artyom will follow suit. They are regarded as high risk zones because of their proximity to the Chinese border and clusters of birds-of-passage nests.

The vaccination will begin two months earlier compared with the previous year, because of a warmer winter and possible earlier return of birds after wintering.

Head of the regional department of the Rosselkhoznadzor Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Inspection Fyodor Novikov said the upcoming vaccination is part of the region's measurers against the spreading of bird flu.

Source: ITAR-TASS