Local administrations have started taking measures to prevent the possible spread of the bird flu from India. Concerned officials have urged the general public to remain on alert against the possible entry of the disease in the country.

Siraha district administration has already banned the import of poultry products from India after cases of bird flu were reported in Bihar

Bangladesh is taking aggressive steps to protect its poultry from the recent outbreak of bird flu in nearby India. The government plans to start door-to-door surveillance as soon as possible to check the possible spread of bird flu, which has taken a pandemic form in India's West Bengal region, officials said.

"The government with the cooperation of the Food and Agricultural Organization will appoint some 150 veterinaries at the upazila level in the districts, which are prone to bird flu outbreak," Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock of Bangladesh Syed Ataur Rahman was quoted by the New Age, a local newspaper, as saying

Despite advances in controlling the virus, recent avian influenza outbreaks in more than a dozen countries reveal that it remains a global threat, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned on Thursday.

"Globally, much progress has been achieved in keeping the H5N1 avian influenza virus under control," said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech, noting that great strides have been made in the past three years. "Surveillance, early detection and immediate response efforts have been bolstered and many countries have been able to eliminate avian flu from poultry

A study concluded that the usual "western" diet consisting of heavy amounts of meat, fried food, and refined grains ups the risk of an individual developing type 2 diabetes, as well as heart complications.

The research, conducted by experts from the University of Minnesota, determined the results by examining the eating habits of nearly 10,000 people. The study showed that a daily diet consisting of two portions of red meat results in a 26 percent increase in the susceptibility to a condition known as metabolic syndrome

Nepal's authorities imposed a ban on importing poultry from India on Monday due mainly to fear of bird flu.

The daily import of poultry and eggs via Sunsari custom office under Sunsari district of eastern Nepal, Devanjang, Ghantabari, Laukahi, Kusaha, Magadhwa and other ports has been banned, the ekantipure.com, a local news portal quoted Border Security Director Rajesh Ghimire