No trace of Bird flu in Sri Lanka

by L.B. Wijayasiri in Kandy

There is no truth in media statements that bird flu has entered Sri Lanka, Director General of the Department of Animal Production and Health Dr. S.K.R. Amarasekara said.

There has been no report from any part of the country about bird flu victims in Sri Lanka. "People should not hesitate to consume properly cooked chicken and eggs", he said. The main avenues of entering the disease to Sri Lanka are imported birds and allied products and migrated birds.

But issuing of permits to import birds and allied products had been suspended.

"The areas where migrated birds are found are being continuously inspected by the department officials".

"The samples collected from those areas are tested at laboratories to ascertain whether the disease was available.

This procedure was followed for the past two years and most modern instruments are being used for the purpose", he said.

"But sofar no trace of bird flu has been found, added Dr. Amarasekara.