Dimapur on high alert following bird flu

Kohima, Dec 19 : The district administration of Dimapur, especially the district health and veterinary departments, has sounded a red alert throughout the district following reports of deaths of some poultry and wild birds bordering Assam's Karbi Anglong district.

Official sources said besides poultry, wild birds like crows, doves, bulbuls, owls and kites were reportedly found dead in the jungles of Karbi Anglong district bordering Nagaland. Unofficial reports said some poultry and birds were found dead inside Nagaland.

The district administration of Dimapur, Additional Deputy Commissioner Sedevikho Khro, in an order has banned transport of all types of poultry and poultry products. The order also sought the cooperation of all concerned in complying with the directive in order to ensure a safe festive season.

Sources said Nagaland spent about Rs three hundred crores annually on meat consumption.

The state veterinary department had already informed all villages bordering Assam to immediately inform the nearest Veterinary Centre in case of abnormal death of any poultry or birds and constituted Rapid Reaction Teams (RRT) in all the districts as precautionary measures to prevent spread of the Avian Influenza.

The Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung Bengankokba, by an order, had also temporarily banned import of poultry and poultry products from Assam.

Official sources said the DC in an order issued at Mokokchung yesterday, asked all the concerned departments manning check gates and check posts to keep strict vigil on the entry of banned poultry and its products into Nagaland through the district.