By Siraj Khan
Nepalgunj, Feb. 7: Banke district is at high risk of bird flu after the detection of avian influenza (H5N1 virus) in various places of Uttar Pradesh, in neighbouring India.
If high caution is not exercised at the Nepal-India border, the risk of bird flu spread through illegal import of poultry products has increased.

Citing that poultry items are brought illegally taking advantage of the open border, local leaders of Nepalgunj have urged the authority to be on high alert at the border point to contain virus spread.
Krishna Prasad Shrestha, coordinator of the Citizens' Concern Committee, Banke, said that if the checkpoints were not tightened and vigilance was not exercised in the district, there were high risk of the virus being imported to the district.

Stating that bird flu has been seen in many parts of India and even in the eastern part of the country, Shrestha said the virus can be imported to the district if high alert is not maintained in the chokepoints. “The concerned bodies must keep a strict vigil at the border point,” he added.

Poultry farmers and entrepreneurs of Banke have also expressed their concern over the possibility of importing bird flu in the country, which could adversely affect human health and their business.
They have urged the administration to make necessary arrangements to prevent possible spread of the flu.

Mukhtar Rai, manager of Raza Group, the largest poultry farm in the district, said it is necessary to stop illegal import of chickens and poultry products from India to contain the virus.
He feared that if bird flu entered the country, it would cause trouble to both the human life and poultry businesses, which were started by investing millions.

Similarly, Munijar Khan, manager of Qadri Poultry Farm, said that stopping illegal import of poultry products is a must to contain the spread of bird flu.
The police administration has claimed that the security personnel are working day and night to check the illegal import of poultry products from India.

The District Administration Office, Banke, has tightened security to prevent the possible spread of bird flu in Banke.
Chief District Officer of Banke, Surya Bahadur Khatri, said the office has directed the security personnel and border animal quarantine offices along the border to exercise high caution to halt the import of poultry products and low quality fish products.

Stating that there are high risks of the virus being imported to Nepal from India, he said there had been a halt in the import of poultry products from India for the time being.