Monday, October 17 2005 11:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: Gujarat, having one of the biggest bird sanctuaries in India and 20 major wet-lands which are a major stop-over destination for winged visitors from far off lands, is bracing up against an avian-flu outbreak.

The anxiety can be gauged from the decision of the Central Government to issue an 'alert' to Gujarat and asking it to watch out for suspected cases or carriers of the dreaded bird flu virus.

"The Center has alerted the Animal Husbandry department of the state to watch out for birds from South-East Asia and China," Conservator of Forests D S Narve told sources. "They have asked us to look out specially for three main species of migratory birds, the Large Black Headed Gull and the Bar Headed Geese and the Large Cormorant which are believed to be the main carriers of bird flu," Narve said.

"The three identified species of birds are residents of cold regions of Central Asian countries and arrive in Gujarat this time of the year and stay on till March," he said.

After receiving the intimation from the Center the forest department is co-coordinating with the Animal Husbandry department of the state and have sent an action plan to the Central Government in this regard, he added.