BADIN, Nov 7: The district coordination officer, Mr Zahid Ali Abbasi, has said that there appears to be no threat of bird flu in migratory birds arriving in the coastal area of the district from the northern hemisphere.

He said that instructions for trapping two live migratory birds of each species had been given to the game authorities so that they could be sent for tests to ensure the birds were not carrying virus.

Mr Abbasi told Dawn on Monday that quick action would be taken to deal with any threat of bird flu for there were strong rumours that migratory birds were carrying virus in the coastal area.

The DCO said that the private sector and the civil society would be involved with the district government if tests revealed any possibility of bird flu.

He said the birds carrying virus could not survive more than few falls and would eventually die.

Sindh wildlife department official Ahmed Hussain Nizamani denied any migratory bird flu strain known as H5N1 reached the coastal area and lakes of the district.

He said the Siberian birds reach warm waters of Sindh after 25 days, having at least five transit stays at various lakes, ponds including the Tarbela dam reservoir and the Indus River for feeding and rest.

Mr Nizamani said sick and virus-infected birds could not fly so long as they could not sustain wind velocity.

He said no dead migratory bird at any lake or coastal spot in the Badin district was spotted.

He said the instructions to game watchers had been given to remain alert if they see any dead bird, they should collect for necessary examination from the government laboratory to ascertain the cause of death.

He said that no restriction had been imposed on hunting by authorized persons nor any caution was given to the hunters.

He said that only four shooting permits had been issued which could not be cancelled without cogent reasons or in case of violation of law.

Mr Nizamani said teal was the first bird to undertake migration to Sindh during the end of August and then pintail and mallard, coot, gadwall, cranes and other birds.

He said that strict measures would be taken to stop chances of mutation of the disease from birds to humans.