Bird flu alert resounded in Mizoram

Aizawl, Jan 30(UNI) Bird flu alert is being sounded in Mizoram following detection of the H5N1 virus in neighbouring states, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department Director Dr C Sangnghina said here today.

''We have been strictly monitoring the inter-state and international borders and the airport against movement of poultry products. Apart from pigs and poultry products, we have banned import of poultry feeds since they can have viral contamination,'' the director told UNI here.

Dr Dr T G Thomas, deputy Director of New Delhi-based National Institute of Communicable Diseases and officer in-charge Dr R Panda held a meeting here with Dr Sangnghina and department officials where they discussed the steps that had been taken by the department and chalked out future strategies for preventing the disease.

Dr Sangnghina said state level and district committees and rapid response teams had been formed in all districts. A state level meeting of all these committees would be held on February 6 for renewed efforts.

He said a crisis management team had been created to do the needful in times of emergency and blood samples had regularly been sent for testing.

''So far the samples we have sent proved negative,'' he said.

He also said the department workers had been given training on preventions of bird flu.

UNI ZS PL RN1610