A team of experts, including scientists from the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), Bhopal, and the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, have been entrusted with the task of finding the source of the avian flu outbreak at Chingmeirong in Imphal.

“It is surprising how this farm got the H5N1 virus,” said Upma Chawdhry, Union Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry.

Despite the fact that neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar are strong suspects, the extensive surveillance authorities have not been able to pinpoint the source of the virus.

The Home Ministry has asked the border guards to step up the vigilance along the borders.

The Department of Animal Husbandry is also conducting intensive post-outbreak surveillance and an expert committee has been set up under the chairmanship of Union Animal Husbandry Commissioner Dr S K Bandopadhyay. “We can even involve Forest Department officials if the need arises,” Chawdhry said. “The committee has been set up to conduct epidemiological studies,” said Dr A C Mishra, Director of NIV.

The team is expected to conduct a detailed investigation that may throw up clues on the source of the virus. On July 25, the Manipur Government declared the outbreak after samples that were sent to the HSADL and NIV tested positive.

Myanmar had reported the first bird flu outbreak in March 2006 and fresh cases early this year. The latest outbreak in Myanmar coincided with that in Manipur. Incidentally, India declared itself free of bird-flu in August, 2006 after a major outbreak in Maharashtra was contained.