The New Nation - Internet Edition

CHT Correspondent

Experts have urged the people including tourists to remain away from migratory birds that take refuge at the Kaptai Lake as these are some of the carriers of bird flu, a deadly contagious disease which can attack humans.

Guest birds are a carrier of bird flu and different types of birds from aboard gather at the Kaptai Lake with the onset of winter, so the lake has been designated as bird flu risk zone, Priyonath Barua, District Livestock Officer (DLO) of Rangamati said.

He suggested poultry farmers to keep eye stringently on their domestic birds, especially duck so that they cannot mix with migratory birds.

Migratory bird handling is also a risk, the DLO said adding that none should trap and kill migratory birds or eat meat of such birds in order to avoid the risk of bird flu.

There is no reason to believe that the 68,300 hectares lake becomes bird flu-free during post-winter period, because the virus causing the deadly disease might remain spread in its water through stool of migratory birds, the livestock officer opined.

The bird flu virus can remain alive for long, the DLO informed advising the people living in the area and tourists to be cautious in using water of the largest manmade lake in the Southeast Asia.