Sunday, November 13 2005 10:23 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government will soon constitute a high level expert committee to keep a close watch on bird flu cases and also to suggest preventive measures, a top official said.

"Though we have no cases of bird flu in the country, we want to take precautionary measures and the committee to be formed will include representatives from poultry industry," Animal Husbandry Secretary P M A Hakeem told sources.

The secretary said the Central government has issued instructions to all state governments to strictly monitor any death at the poultry firm and livestock species.

Animal husbandry departments have also been asked to keep strong vigil on the migratory birds in their respective states and look for any change in the behavior of the bird, he said.

"The country, as on date, is completely free from menace of the bird flu," Hakeem asserted.

He also ruled out any possibility of bringing in avian flu through imported frozen poultry products as nothing comes into the country from nations where traces of avian flue have been reported.

The Central Government has already issued instructions for mode of surveillance along with collection, preservation and dispatch of samples to designated laboratories.

In a recently held meeting with state Animal husbandry secretaries and other senior officers, the state preparedness to combat any eventuality was reviewed.

"We are keeping a close watch on the situation. Extensive surveillance is on for both domestic poultry and migratory birds," Hakeem said.

The surveillance, which also included laboratory tests, has shown India to be free from bird-flu, he said and added, "There is absolutely no need for any worry on this."

Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF) through state animal husbandry departments is keeping a close eye on the whole situation.

UP-based Central Disease Diagnostic Laboratory along with its four regional centers in Pune, Jalandhar, Bangalore and Kolkata are extending scientific inputs on the issue, Hakeem said.

He recalled even when the disease rocked the Southeast Asian economy last year, India did not have any instance of bird flu.