Date:23/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/02/23/stories/2006022303910900.htm

Back Culling of chicken in Navapur completed

Our Bureau

Mumbai , Feb. 22

THE task of culling the chicken in the bird flu outbreak zone and surrounding 10 km radius in Navapur has been completed.

The workers culled 1,94,124 birds in the poultry farms, 14,669 birds from backyard co-operatives and destroyed 3,66,000 eggs since Saturday, the State Government spokesperson informed the media at the Secretariat on Wednesday.

Blood samples of 151 persons who came into direct contact with the infected birds have been sent to the National Institute Virology, Pune, for analysis.

By Friday results from 91 samples would be announced. The health officials are also undertaking house-to-house survey in the Navapur district and have found 237 persons with fever but none of them in serious conditions.

Meanwhile, nine patients continue to remain in the isolation ward of Navapur hospital, Mr B. Gagrani, spokesperson for the State Government, said.

The workers have also destroyed 36 metric tonnes of chicken feed.

The task of clearing chicken litter is yet to be completed, Mr Gagrani said.

He also said compensation of Rs 5.6 lakh had been disbursed to the poultry farm owners.

Meanwhile, the officials continue to scrutinise the confiscated records of the poultry farm owners, he said.