PANJIM: After at least five States in India reported bird deaths due to flu in the past over a week, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has asked the State Chief Wildlife Wardens to take up surveillance and monitoring of the birds on priority.

In a letter to the States, the Inspector General of Forest (WL) Rohit Tiwari has said that considering the serious situation and the possibility of spread of the disease to humans and other domesticated animals or birds, the States are requested to take all possible steps for containing the spread.

“On an urgent basis, take up surveillance and monitoring of birds, for any signs of disease, take appropriate measures for controlling it, on priority,” Tiwari said.

He informed that all the State Chief Wildlife Wardens have been forwarded guidelines relating to Avian Influenza and has requested for taking immediate steps for containing the spread of the disease.

Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant had on Wednesday said that Director of Animal Husbandry has been instructed to monitor the situation and take necessary measures. Close to 24,500 birds have died and thousands others are infected across five States.

The flu has been reported in the States of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Haryana and Uttarakhand.