The Ministry of Health Thursday formed a high-level task force to fight the possible outbreak of bird flu in Nepal. The task force is headed by Dr D.B Chataut, director of the Department of Health Services.

Reports said that the task force’s primary job would be to figure out sources that might assist in the spread the disease. Import of meat from foreign countries, especially that chicken, may be banned within a few days and quarantine posts will soon be set up at the Tribhuvan International Airport and major entry points elsewhere.

A large-scale drive could possibly be lunched if the disease actually makes inroads into the country, it is learnt.

Nepal shares direct air link with Thailand and Pakistan where the disease has hit. Thailand has already started massive drive after the disease reached an alarming scale.

The World Health Organization had on Wednesday cautioned the Health Ministry through an emailed letter about the possible outbreak of bird flu in Nepal, urging for precautionary measures.