MOSCOW, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a headquarters to be set up to combat bird flu.
Putin told government members Monday that bird flu was "obviously approaching Russia," and said little time was left before the spring migration of birds back north to Russia.
"On the whole, experts believe the (bird) flu situation will be complicated," Putin said.
First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev was assigned to head the headquarters, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
The bird flu virus already has been detected in many southern regions of Russia, mostly in wildfowl, including migratory birds. Earlier, the Russian Agriculture Ministry said it was planning to start poultry vaccination campaigns in areas along bird migration routes.
Agriculture Minister Alexei Gordeyev said the campaign will protect the industrial sector and also protect humans by ensuring the safety of their food.
Even though at least 100 million doses of bird flu vaccine are needed, the minister said that sufficient amounts of the vaccine already had been made.
A poultry vaccination campaign will begin in Moscow after March 15, the city's deputy chief veterinary officer said Monday.
