The government is stepping up efforts to prevent the possible spread of a deadly avian influenza virus in the nation.

A Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry official said Wednesday that the ministry plans to issue a bird flu advisory around the middle of next month and designate a five-month period from October through February as a special period of quarantine against the potentially fatal virus.

The official said the bird flu virus is likely to enter the country from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia via migratory birds in autumn and winter.

The ministry plans twice-daily inspections on poultry farms with a record of bird flu outbreak as well as thorough tests of chicken and duck meat imported from China and Thailand, which were hit by the bird flu in the past.

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