KATHMANDU, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The threat of bird flu in southern Nepal is escalating as the authorities failed to curb the import of poultry products from bordering Indian cities, reported the national news agency (RSS) Friday.

    The RSS quoted a local from Birgunj Municipality, situated some80 km south of capital Kathmandu, as saying that poultry products including chicken, ducks and eggs are still entering Nepal through various custom points in the district despite the ban.

    The locals of the area also complained of negligence by the concerned bodies towards conducting awareness programs on avian influenza and its symptoms at the time when people are panicked due to high alert adopted by the Indian government.

    Meanwhile, Senior Veterinary doctor at the District Animal Health Office Govinda Jha said that they have issued high alert to prevent bird flu from entering Nepal and urged all the locals to help their initiatives by taking necessary security measure in animal farms and immediately notify nearby animal health center incase of sudden death of large number of birds in the area.

    Chief of the Animal Quarantine Office in Birgunj Municipality Ram Sharan Shah said that they are working with the local administration and security bodies to prevent import of poultry products in the district.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the District Police Office Yogeshwor Romkhani said that he had already issued circular to the security personnel under his command to take necessary measures to prevent poultry products being imported from India.

    It is estimated that poultry products worth 500,000 Nepali rupees (worth some 8,064 U.S. dollars) are imported daily from neighboring Indian states of West Bengal and Bihar.