Migratory birds that make the Loktak lake in Manipur their winter home could have carried avian flu virus

Imphal, Aug. 24: An expert team, led by animal husbandry commissioner, ministry of agriculture, N.B. Bandhopadhay, today visited Loktak Lake in Manipur to investigate the source of bird flu.

After visiting the border township of Moreh yesterday, it visited the lake, home to various migratory birds.

The team comprises experts from the National Institute of Virology, Pune, Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, Eastern Regional Diagnosis, Calcutta, and state officials.

The members suspect that avian influenza could have its origin in Myanmar as bird flu was reported from the neighbouring country earlier this year. They fear that affected chickens smuggled in from Myanmar through Moreh could have led to the flu outbreak.

Officials and police in Moreh yesterday apprised the team of the steps taken to curb import of chicken from Myanmar following a ban on import of poultry products from there in February.

The team visited areas of the lake flocked by migratory birds during winter. “They avoid the summer months and will be seen again at the lake in November,” an official source said.

The experts met villagers, including fishermen, to get a first hand knowledge of the behaviour of the winged visitors last season.

The outbreak of the avian influenza was confirmed at a farm at Chingmeirong in Imphal East on July 25. Investigation started on Wednesday after culling operation within a 5-km radius of the affected zone. The team has already visited the poultry farm owned by Ira Singh and Cenral Poultry Farm from where he procured the chickens.