A Bird Flu Outbreak in neighbouring West Bengal in India has been confirmed. Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) would like to request cooperation from the public in continuing to prevent the disease from entering the country. TOLLFREE PHONE HOTLINES: 124 to report on suspected cases of bird flu and/or to enquire about the disease or 155 to enquire on the legal movement of poultry and poultry products and/or to report illegal trade of the same. For more information about bird flu please click here. As a precaution against bird flu entering the country, the import of eggs, chicken, and other poultry products has been banned by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests from Saturday afternoon on January 16th 2010. On Saturday, there was an emergency meeting between MoAF and MoH after which it was decided to impose the ban as a necessary precautionary measure.

All the permits issued till date for importing poultry and poultry products from West Bengal are also being revoked by the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) of MoAF. 

- Motiraj Gurung, Webmaster, ICS