Kendrapara: Authorities have sounded a flu alert in migratory birds' habitats at Bhitarkanika National Park following detection of its infection in Karnataka.

The officials have initiated precautionary measures to find out possible flu infection of avian species. They also have been instructed to keep tabs on birds at the park, said chief district veterinary officer Sumant Kumar Mohapatra. To create awareness, leaflets and booklets are being distributed among the villagers living near the national park.

"A joint field survey by wildlife personnel and state veterinary wing officials is on at the national park. The experts' team is yet to sight sickness symptoms in the birds," said forest range officer A.K. Nayak.

There has been influx of birds from the cooler trans-Himalayan region. But, they are quite safe. There is no reason for a possible flu outbreak, sources said.

With the heronries in Bhitarkanika frequented by winter migratory birds, experts are keeping tabs on the itinerant species. The vigil is greater on winter migrant species that are found making yearly visits to this wetland from the central Asian countries. None of the winter species were so far found drooping and wore the signs of sickness. No bird deaths have been reported yet.

Instructions were to segregate the birds found drooping from other birds and conduct the blood sample test check. However, no migratory birds have yet showed such symptom, said the sources.

A rapid response team has been constituted in all nine blocks of the district. A veterinary assistant surgeon, two livestock inspectors, one gomitra, zila parisada members and social workers are the members of each team, said Mohapatra.

Officials are keeping watchful eyes on the migratory birds, particularly the bar-headed geese, bramihin duck, plovers, pintails and other migratory species as they are prone to carry H5NI strain of avian influenza.