Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 08 2008:
In view of the outbreak of avian influenza in three districts of Assam��Kamrup, Nalbari and Barpeta, the State Government has banned inter-State transport of eggs, chicks, poultry feed and live birds from Assam to Manipur with immediate effect.
A press release issued by Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Services Th Dorendro informed that all RRTs (Rapid Response Teams) constituted in April last year have been alerted for immediate action to control and contain any outbreak of bird flu in the State.
The Director has also instructed all those in charge of Veterinary Departments to keep their staff on high alert and to maintain strict vigil on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the State.
An intensive physical surveillance of poultry birds in organised, backyard and commercial farms shall be taken up for any unusual morbidity and mortality, it mentioned.
Further, all Deputy Directors (Veterinary) and Sub-Divisional Veterinary hospitals have been instructed to enforce the Government ban order stringently at the check posts on NH-39 and NH-53 for all consignments of inter-State transport of eggs, chicks, feed and live birds arriving at Imphal daily from Assam with immediate effect until further order.
Manipur was hit by an outbreak of bird flu last year prompting the Govt to cull a large number of birds in Imphal.
Sale of chicken and eggs was banned for many months to contain the possibility of the bird flu breaking out again.