By Tshering Chuki Gyamtsho

Dec 03, 2008-Thimphu: A bird called for an emergency meeting on November 28 at the chamber of the officiating secretary of the agriculture ministry.  

Another bird flu outbreak in the neighboring Indian state of Assam and another ban on the import of poultry products into Bhutan.

The decision was made after an outbreak of bird flu was declared in the Kamrup District of Assam. 

To prevent the disease from entering the country, disinfection of vehicles and other risk goods will resume at all entry points.

According to the director general of livestock department, Tenzin Dhendup, Bhutan is under the threat of the first stage of Avian Influenza.

 “Bhutan has so far been able to keep the disease out of the country very vigilantly,” he said.

The ministry will reactivate the Veterinary Vigilance Team (VVT) by the livestock department for clinical and laboratory surveillance along the southern border, especially in Samdrup Jongkhar and Sarpang.

Tenzin Dhendup said once the disease gets into the country it will be very difficult to eradicate it. ”It is better to check the disease when it is with the animals.”

Between January and June this year, 94 live poultry, 94 dressed chicken pieces, a kilogram of chicken sausage, 50 trays and another 154 cartons of eggs were seized by the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority.

In the meanwhile, import of table eggs and frozen chicken from identified sources in India, other than Assam and West Bengal, will continue. But the entry of these products into Bhutan will be only allowed through Phuentsholing.

The import permits for Day Old Chicks (DOC) which have already been issued or import from Delhi via Guwahati will be immediately revoked, while the import of DOCs from Pune to Paro via Delhi and Kathmandu will continue.

The poultry feeds from Samrat Feed Mills in Siliguri will be allowed only if it is transported by lateral routes for movement to other eastern and southern district border only from Phuentsholing.

Tenzin Dhendup said the ban will last for three months in an ideal situation.

Bhutan will lift the ban once India declares itself an avian influenza free country following a three month surveillance of the areas where avian influenza was last detected.

According to the World Health Organization Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a contagious disease of animals caused by virus that normally infects only birds and, less commonly, pigs.