The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is gearing up for a battle against bird flu as the season of birds' migration approaches with strict precautionary measures to prevent an outbreak of the disease in the country, local newspaper Khaleej Times reported on Sunday.

Technical teams of the UAE National Committee for Emergency Response to the Bird Flu will intensify field surveys on the UAE coastlines, islands and other locations to monitor birds, and take random samples for testing from the beginning of September, according to the report.

The measures will coincide with the beginning of the season of birds' migration from the North to the South. Migratory birds often arrive in different parts of the UAE during September every year.

The program for observing and watching the wild and migratory birds will be conducted through special devices, which cover 25 square km along the country's coast.

The committee has also intensified surveillance at the border check-points, airports and sea beaches to ensure that birds entering the country are not infected with the deadly H5N1 virus.

Any birds and poultry products to be imported into the UAE will be examined by the Environment Agency and the Food Control Authority to ensure they are safe, free of any contagious diseases, and fit for human consumption.

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2008)