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| Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

In view of the rise in the number of avian influenza (bird flu) cases in Andhra Pradesh, Director of the Mid-Day-Meal (Dokka Seethamma Mid-Day-Meal) programme B. Srinivasa Rao has asked district Collectors to seek the opinion of the Veterinary Department regarding the impact of the influenza in their respective districts and taken an appropriate decision on continuation of egg distribution under the meal scheme.

On Tuesday, the Director (MDM) had verbally made a request to the Collectors. “Today, we are giving the instructions in writing, asking them to remain alert and take a call accordingly on the issue,” Mr. Rao told The Hindu.

Soon after reports of the outbreak of avian influenza surfaced in East Godavari district, the MDM wing of the School Education Department had issued instructions to the district Collector to stop the supply of eggs to schools and discontinue their distribution to schoolchildren as part of meal scheme.