Kathmandu, January 30:

The government has set up quarantine check posts in six Tarai districts to prevent any possible outbreak of bird flu, said Dr Manas Kumar Banerjee, project coordinator of Avian Influenza Control Project.

The six districts — Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha and Ilam — are on high alert after an outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal with the special surveillance in border areas in Jhapa and Illam.

“Though import of chickens and poultry products has been banned after bird flu spread in West Bengal, illegal import of these products has been continuing. Considering this, local authorities have been organising awareness campaign at several places,” Dr Banerjee said. He added that doctors had been sent to places to prevent possible outbreak of bird flu. No case of bird flu has been found in the eastern region until now.