Imphal, August 21: Even as the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department has announced that well cooked chicken is now safe for the table, a member of the Expert Committee of the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Joint Secretary AB Negi arrived at Imphal today to study the source of the H5NI virus.

Bird flu was confirmed in the State after a poultry farm located at Chingmeirong reported the death of 132 birds.

The expert committee to find out the source of the flu outbreak was constituted during a meeting chaired by the Commissioner of Animal Husbandry, Dr SK Bandopadhaya on August 14.The other members of the team are expected to arrive at Imphal tomorrow.

Apart from Dr SK Bandopadhaya and Dr AB Negi, the other members of the expert team are, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health Vinit Choudhury, Director of National Institute of Animal Health Dr JM Kacharia, Dr AC Mishra from the National Institute of Virology, former Joint Secretary of the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory Dr HK Pradhan and Joint Director Dr SC Dubey, Dr AG Bandhopaya of the Eastern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Kolkata, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Manipur) S Singsit, and State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Director Dr Th Dorendro.

Soon on his arrival at Imphal today, AB Negi took stock of the post operative surveillance taken up by the State Government, said a source while talking to The Sangai Express.

Once the other members of the team arrive tomorrow, they are expected to visit the farm at Chingmeirong where the bird flu was first reported.

As part of the effort to zero in on the source of the H5NI virus, the team will also visit the border areas the following day, informed the source.

The expert team will be here till August 24.