February 25, 2011

Indian state bans poultry import on bird flu alert

As a preventive measure, India's Mizoram government imposed a ban on import of poultry from outside, especially the bird flu-hit Tripura besides Myanmar.

Mizoram has sounded a bird flu alert following the outbreak of disease in neighbouring Tripura besides Myanmar.

''The state government has set up check gates at the border and asked security forces to maintain a strict vigil along the border to prevent import of poultry and poultry products,'' Animal Husbandry Veterinary Director L B Sailo said.

Bird flu was detected in Sittwe district in Myanmar on January 18 in a government-run duck farm at RK Nagar in Agartala, official sources said. The Tripura government had ordered culling of all birds and destruction of eggs and feed material at R K Nagar duck farm and its surrounding area.

''Even though, no case of Avian influenza has been detected in Mizoram, the government has felt a strong need for banning import of the poultry products,'' the sources added.

Veterinary officials across Mizoram have been instructed to examine any case of mysterious death of birds, the sources said.