International researchers have recently ruled out the spreading of avian influenza or bird flu virus by migratory birds through a review of migratory bird movement, reported local daily Mail Today Tuesday.

All samples studies for virus strain H5N1 on migrant birds so far were found to be negative, said the report.

The researchers monitored in real time the movement of migratory birds from India in a northward direction using satellite tracking technology. They ruled out the possibility of involvement of migratory birds in avian influenza spreading in India, said the report.

The satellite monitoring gave valuable data about the movement of migratory birds in the region and has enabled scientists to determine whether the locations of these birds and outbreaks of bird flu are related along the birds' migratory pathways, according to the report.

The project began last December when scientists captured, sampled and marked 70 water birds with "satellite tags" at Chilika Lagoon in India, where over 8,900,000 migratory and resident water birds used to live as their temporary or permanent residence, said the report.

(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2009)