Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 24 (IANS): Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has called for a high-level meeting to discuss the reports of the deaths of ducks in Alapuzha due to avian influenza virus, a Kerala minister said Monday.

Health Minister V.S. Sivakumar told the media here that there is no need for any panic.

"All arrangements are being made to stock medicines to tackle any outbreak of fever. The chief minister has called for an emergency meeting of ministers and officials. There is no need to worry or panic," said Sivakumar.

Over the past two weeks, a number of ducks in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts have been reportedly dropping dead. Following this samples were sent to a few labs of which the Bhopal lab confirmed that the ducks died due to avian influenza.

Meanwhile, the agriculture department has already begun an awareness drive to educate the duck farmers. A final action plan would be ready tomorrow to tackle this issue. Duck meat is a popular dish in the central districts of Kerala. With these reports things are going to be bad for the duck farmers.