Imphal, November 15: As part of a Nationwide exercise to prevent outbreak of bird flu, the Centre has alerted States concerned, including manipur, to implement certain guidelines. In addition to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (Wild Life Division) advising all the Chief Wildlife Wardens to adopt preventive steps against the deadly disease for persons directly involved in handling wild birds, the Union Ministry of Agriculture is learnt to have informed related department authorities to be on constant alert and surveillance.

The latter Ministry is informed to have sent details of a recent meeting containing discussion and revision on surveillance of bird flu and addressed to all the principal Secretaries/Secretaries (Animal Husbandry) of the States.

Contents of the official intimation include minutes of the said meeting held under the chairmanship animal husbandry authorities wherein States were asked to keep vigil by monitoring disease prone sources like in poultry population in case mortality rate is above normal. Authorities of State concerned were also advised to collect samples of poultry birds in suspected areas especially those poultry rearing places located near water bodies and bird sanctuaries mandatorily for the next six months.

The states are also conveyed to get serum samples from wild and migratory birds for which Ministry of Environment and Forests, Bombay Natural History Society and Wetlands International need to be consulted for possible assistance.

Another precautionary step contained in the Ministries' intimations include necessity of Department of Environment and forests to prepare a list of migratory birds flocking to different water bodies and circulate the same to Animal husbandry Departments of all the states and Union Territories.

The bird carcasses, if found, from forest/sanctuary areas should be sealed in polybag or any other leak proof container and sent to the nearest laboratory 'under cold chain' by the forest officials for onward submission to Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, insist the Central Government missives to respective states.

Protective gears suggested for department personnel who require close contact with wild birds/animals include wearing rubber gloves and protective clothing that can be disinfected or disposed off as well as protective eyewear and face shields.

Giving stress on extensive awareness campaigns, the Central Government stressing on preventive measures also cited immediate reporting of dead birds to the nearest forest/animal husbandry office and assured assistance to district veterinary authorities in collecting samples of bird carcasses from protected areas.

In another development connected to the bird flu uncertainties, two live Eastern RedLegged Falcons said to have been confiscated by District Forest Officer, Tamenglong from the district market were handed over to headquarters of State Forest Department today.

Chief Wildlife Warden A Kharsiing told The Sangai Express that the birds would be subsequently handed over to State veterinary authorities for further examination.

The Chief Warden also conveyed that the Forest authority is contemplating of visiting Mayai lambi areas where migratory birds make annual sojourns. Taking serious note of migratory bird species being sold in some Tamenglong district markets the Chief Warden said district police would be asked to take appropriate action besides intimating district forest authorities to do the needful.