Imphal, January 31: After carcasses of seven Uchek Meishangbi (a species of Magpie) and four Khoining (Bulbul) were collected by officials of the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department from Maharabi village in Imphal West district yesterday, two carcasses of Khoining and Urok were also recovered in the same area today.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, Veterinary Director Dr Th Dorendra informed that a doctor of the Department will be sent to the high security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal tomorrow with samples of the dead birds collected in the last 48 hours.

He said that extra preventive measures are being taken up in the State following outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal.

Since the surveillance operation was launched, there has been no case of any unnatural death of chicken or duck in the State, he conveyed.

Even as the Government of West Bengal has asked for veterinary experts to help in combating bird flu in West Bengal, the State Department of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry is unable to spare any experts due to shortage of manpower in the Department, Dr Dorendra informed.

Department officials have also started collecting blood samples of poultry birds reared in Maharabi where carcasses of wild birds were found.

On the other hand, the Department is continuing its awareness programmes on bird flu.

Under the programme, an awareness campaign on bird flu was held today at Lilong.