# 2725
The Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, acting in response to the recent discovery of bird flu in neighboring Nepal, has declared a `bird flu alert' in some districts along the border.
Essentially banning the transport or sale of poultry out of Nepal, setting up response teams, and requiring farmers to report sick or dead chickens immediately.
While the bird flu virus has only been confirmed in eastern Nepal, two days ago we got this report from Nepal News.
Sindhuli villagers terror-stricken after flocks of chicken die of unknown disease
nepalnews.com ag Jan 28 09
Even as the government has been trying to dispel rumours about the spread of bird-flu virus in the country, a report from Sindhuli says more than 1,000 chickens have died of unknown disease in a remote village of the district.
The state-owned National News Agency quoted a local poultry farmer as saying that the chicken died from the disease that has spread for the past few days.
Sindhuli is located in central Nepal.
Given that the outbreak in eastern Nepal started two weeks ago, and that Uttar Predesh's border is adjacent to western and central Nepal, it seems likely that the report out of Sindhuli may have influenced the decision to issue today's alert.
This report from the New Kerala.
Alert in Uttar Pradesh after bird flu in Nepal
Lucknow, Jan 30 : An alert has been sounded in various districts of Uttar Pradesh after bird flu was been detected in Jhapa district of Nepal, an official said Friday.
Several districts including Shrawasti, Bahraich, Maharajganj, Basti and Pilibhit on the India-Nepal border have been put on alert following detection of the virus in the eastern district of Nepal, deputy director of animal husbandry Khursheed Alam told IANS.
"We have also banned the import of chickens and poultry products from Nepal," he added.
He said special monitoring committees and rapid response teams have been set up in the districts.
“Poultry farm owners have also been instructed to keep a strict vigil on chicken and provide report to veterinary officials on a regular basis,” he said.
The animal husbandry department has also been directed to contact the officers associated with the task of preventing bird flu in Assam, Bihar and West Bengal and ensure that the traders exporting birds from these states to Uttar Pradesh produce certificates testifying that the birds have not been brought from any area affected by bird flu.
--- IANS
