NEW DELHI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala have ordered the culling of over 20,000 birds amid an outbreak of avian influenza (commonly called bird flu), local media reports said Friday.

The move is part of containment measures undertaken by the officials in Kozhikode and Alappuzha districts that have been hit by the bird flu.

Reports said around 14,228 birds in Kozhikode and 5,961 birds in Alappuzha are to be culled.

The decision was taken after the samples sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The culling operations, beginning on Saturday, will be carried out within a one-km radius of the affected areas by the rapid response teams deployed by the Animal Husbandry Department.

According to officials, the disease has been reported so far only in birds. However, authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and report any unusual mass bird deaths to the nearest veterinary hospital. ■