Mizoram sounds bird flu alarm

Aizawl, Aug 1 (UNI) Sandwiched between Bangladesh, Myanmar and Manipur, all affected by the dreaded avian influenza, Mizoram has been declared as the most vulnerable state, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary principal secretary Vanhela Pachuau said today.

While stressing the need to be alert, veterinary officials, however, advised against unnecessary panic.

''As far as we know, Mizoram is still free from the avian influenza. However, we have to take every precaution since it has already affected our neighbourhood, veterinary director C Sangnghina said adding, ''We should be alert, but should not be panicky.

The veterinary director also pointed out that due to lack of water bodies, Mizoram has a lesser chance of contracting the virus from its largest carriers - the migratory birds.

As precautionary measures, all of Mizoram's borders have been sealed against animal traffic since a few weeks back.

However, there ewre possibilities of pigs and chickens being smuggled through the porous unmanned borders.

''I have instructed the BSF and the state police to keep strict vigil along the borders as well,'' Mr Vanhela added.

''There have been reports of 'sudden and mysterious deaths' of chickens in Ngopa area near Manipur border a few days back. We have sent a team to this area. They will collect the samples to be sent for test. The death of the chickens might have been due to some other reason but this has awakened us to the need to keep a strict vigil along the Manipur border,'' he further said.

He added that there had also been reports of ''mysterious'' deaths of chickens at Pawlrang village in the northeast Mizoram a few days back but it was later confirmed that the death of chickens was caused by consumption of carelessly disposed rat poison.

''In Champhai town near Myanmar border, a number of pigs believed to be smuggled from Myanmar have been destroyed. The sealing of borders against import of pigs has badly affected the pork market in Aizawl,'' he also said.

UNI