Aizawl: As a preventive measure against bird flu in Mizoram, the government has stepped up vigil in the border areas. State Animal Husbandry and veterinary officials said here today that Rapid Action Teams had been sent to the border areas while different enforcement agencies along the borders had been alerted to prevent import of bird, chicken, pig and other animals.

Mizoram is located between Myanmar and Bangladesh and shares 722 kilometre-long international border with the two bird flu-affected countries. It also shares border with the avian flu-hit Assam.

Though around 100 samples have been sent to Bhopal's High Security Animal Testing Laboratory every month, no positive sample from the state had been identified till date.

"The absence of sea birds in Mizoram, that are the main carrier of the disease, might be the reason why the state remains free from the dreaded disease. But we have to remain alert," an AHD official confirmed.

Source : PTI