Shillong, April 11: Outbreak of bird flu in Bangladesh has prompted the Union ministry of health and family welfare to ask the Meghalaya government to monitor areas bordering the neighbouring country.

Deputy commissioners of districts along the border have been instructed to be more vigilant and the BSF has been asked to assist district administration in preventing smuggling of chicken and poultry products into the state.

According to deputy director (administration) of the state health services, A. Kabir, the state government was in constant touch with the National Institute of Communicable Diseases and the health ministry. Reports are being being prepared on daily basis and submitted to the state government.

“So far there is no case of human infection but we do not want to take any chance,” Kabir said. All the district medical and health officers have been asked to report cases of unnatural deaths and symptoms of bird flu if found among the villagers.

Deputy commissioner of West Khasi Hills F. Kharlyngdoh convened a district-level task force meeting yesterday to step up vigil and take stock of the situation. The authorities emphasised the need to create awareness among villagers. He wrote to the BSF seeking its co-operation to prevent bird smuggling.

The divisional forest officer (wildlife) B.K. Reddy has also been asked to identify migratory birds and map their flight routes so that action could be taken at the earliest.

The administration in Jaintia Hills, another district bordering Bangladesh, has geared up to check illegal entry of poultry products from across the border. All entry and exit points of the district with Bangladesh were under the scanner, said deputy commissioner F.R. Kharkongor.