The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) today initiated a survey in the various markets and poultry shops of the city to determine whether there are any cases of avian influenza. A total of 13 markets were surveyed today by the city civic body. This drive by the civic officials comes after a fresh outbreak of avian influenza was reported in two blocks of Murshidabad. The major markets inspected include New Market, Lansdowne Market, Gariahat Market and the Lake Market. Chief municipal officer (health), Dr Deb Dwaipayan Chatterjee said: "Our inspections carried out neither revealed anything suspicious nor have we detected any symptoms of bird flu in the inspected birds.' A total of 27 food inspectors and eight veterinary officers have been assigned the task of inspecting the various markets and chicken stalls located throughout the city. The veterinary officers and the food inspectors have been divided into smaller groups with each group having at least one veterinary officer and at least three food inspectors. Mayor Mr Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya said no ban has been imposed on the sale and entry of chicken in KMC areas. n SNS