Nagaland free from bird flu

Home reared poultry has been declared safe for consumption in Nagaland after an investigation by the Nagaland Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department.

Home reared poultry has been declared safe for consumption in Nagaland after an investigation by the Nagaland Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department confirmed that there was no case of bird flu in the state.

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Officials from the department inspected poultry farms in and around Dimapur after reports that chicken were infected by avian flu in some villages in neighbouring Assam's Karbi Anglong district, and confirmed that there was no outbreak of bird flu in Nagaland, official sources said today.

The officials along with a rapid response team (RRT), doctors and district veterinary officer (DVO) visited poultry farms, including the one at Tribal Childrens Home at Padum Pukhri, and declared that the health of the birds, numbering about 1,000, as normal and healthy.

The department cautioned against import of poultry and its products from across the border.

Commercial poultry farms within Dimapur district have been reminded to compulsorily register at district veterinary office.

Director of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Dr Yisao Lotha reviewed the situation with officials of the district veterinary department and asked all DVOs to continue vigil at all entry points to the state and inform immediately in case of unusual death of poultry.

Nagaland has banned sale and consumption of imported poultry and its products following outbreak of avian influenza in Assam and West Bengal and the restriction remains in force.

Dimapur Municipal Council had on Monday seized poultry eggs from traders at different locations of the town for defying the ban order and destroyed them.