Move by Animal Husbandry Department

ALAPPUZHA: The state animal husbandry department has planned  to set up a permanent mechanism to monitor migratory water birds in the wake of the bird flu outbreak.

Mr V. Brahmanandan, director, animal husbandry department , told Deccan Chronicle that  discussions were being held  with various departments to develop a system to monitor the entry route of  avian influenza.

“We are focussing on the migratory water birds which can carry bird flu viruses,”  he said and added that the system would be functional from Kuttanad area.

The mechanism will be set up with the support of  government departments, ornithologists and local bodies.  

The AHD has come  up with the plan following the  Deccan Chronicle report on the risk posed by migratory water birds on November 27.

“It’s imperative to have a regular check on the migratory birds which show any symptoms or which have died on the migratory routs,”  says Dr A. Jalaludheen, project officer, College of Avian Science and Management, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), and former director of academics and research, the Centre for Advanced Studies in Poultry Science.

Dr B. Sreekumar, president of Kottayam Nature Society, said they  would be able to draw  the migratory route maps and set up systematic sampling from healthy wild migratory birds in future. “If the AHD required the society’s help, we will cooperate,”  he added.