October 18, 2005

India's Gujarat to look out for bird flu

India's government has alerted Gujarat state to look out for migratory birds coming from China and Southeast Asia, which might carry bird flu.

Local authorities said they were told to be watchful especially for the bar-headed goose, the large cormorant and the large black-headed gull, which were suspected to be the main carriers of the disease.

During winter, the three species identified migrated from Central Asia to Gujarat, which was a favourite breeding area for migratory birds coming from that region.