Imphal, February 22: Following the detection of H5NI virus, the virus which causes avian influenza or bird flu at Navapur in Nandurbar district of Maharashtra and the spread of the disease to humans, the State Government has ordered a complete ban on the import of chicken, ducks, eggs and other poultry products from outside the State.

Disclosing this to The Sangai Express an official from the State Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department said that the decision to ban the import of fowls and poultry products was taken during a meeting held yesterday.

The meeting was attended by the Commissioner of Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department and officials and representatives of the Forest and Environment Department, Medical Department, DIPR and Poultry Federation.

During the meeting it was decided that a complete ban will be enforced on the import of chicken, eggs and other poultry products from outside the State as well as from Moreh.

Strict vigil will be mounted to check the import of these items at Mao Gate, Moreh and at Jiribam, said the official and added that a similar ban has been imposed on the import of ducks.

However a decision is yet to be taken on whether to ban the sale of chicken and eggs inside the State.

Another round of meeting is scheduled to be held on February 25, informed the official and added that a decision on whether to ban the sale of chicken and eggs will be taken during the meeting then.

To tackle the outbreak of avian influenza, the Maharashtra Government had culled over one lakh chickens and destroyed a large number of eggs as well.

Door to door campaigning have been launched at the affected areas in Maharashtra and a number of people suspected to have been infected by the virus have been admitted to isolation wards in hospitals.

Tonnes of poultry feeds have also been destroyed in the Govt's effort to check the spread of the disease.

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