India to seal off 856km long border along Bangladesh
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Sarwar Jahan
India has asked its Border Security Force (BSF) and the Mobile Task Force (MTF) to seal off the 856-km long India-Bangladesh border along Tripura state following an outbreak of a disease.
According to Indian media reports, the move aims to stop smuggling of poultry products following deaths of more than 600 chickens in government-run farms in an area, about 85 kilometres away from Agartala, in three days until Sunday last.
Quoting Tripura's animal resources development minister, the reports said the Indian state government has formed 71 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to examine the state's 1,600 poultry farms.
The authorities have also banned the import of poultry to prevent spread of bird flu.
Preliminary investigation in the state laboratory revealed that the mass deaths of chicken were due to the Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), according to the same reports.
The Indian government has asked the Inspector General, BSF, to keep vigilance and instruct the personnel posted along the international border, so that no illegal migration or influx of birds takes place or poultry products could enter the state, the reports said.
The customs department and the field officials of the animal resource development department in the Indian state of Tripura, as the reports said, have been asked to keep strict vigilance at important check-posts and other areas on any mortality among ducks and poultry birds.
The authorities have reportedly sent samples of the dead birds to Bhopal and different other laboratories outside Tripura to confirm if the chickens died of bird flu or any other disease. The authorities, however, have banned the import of poultry and sealed border with Bangladesh as part of preventive measure, the reports added.
India has asked its Border Security Force (BSF) and the Mobile Task Force (MTF) to seal off the 856-km long India-Bangladesh border along Tripura state following an outbreak of a disease.
According to Indian media reports, the move aims to stop smuggling of poultry products following deaths of more than 600 chickens in government-run farms in an area, about 85 kilometres away from Agartala, in three days until Sunday last.
Quoting Tripura's animal resources development minister, the reports said the Indian state government has formed 71 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to examine the state's 1,600 poultry farms.
The authorities have also banned the import of poultry to prevent spread of bird flu.
Preliminary investigation in the state laboratory revealed that the mass deaths of chicken were due to the Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), according to the same reports.
The Indian government has asked the Inspector General, BSF, to keep vigilance and instruct the personnel posted along the international border, so that no illegal migration or influx of birds takes place or poultry products could enter the state, the reports said.
The customs department and the field officials of the animal resource development department in the Indian state of Tripura, as the reports said, have been asked to keep strict vigilance at important check-posts and other areas on any mortality among ducks and poultry birds.
The authorities have reportedly sent samples of the dead birds to Bhopal and different other laboratories outside Tripura to confirm if the chickens died of bird flu or any other disease. The authorities, however, have banned the import of poultry and sealed border with Bangladesh as part of preventive measure, the reports added.