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Fresh cases of bird flu death

NEW DELHI: Even as 11,225 poultry birds were culled and 5,877 eggs and 1,218 kg of poultry feed destroyed on Thursday in the bird flu-affected districts of West Bengal, fresh cases of unusual mortality were reported from two blocks of Murshidabad district and one block each of Nadia, Bardhaman and Parghana districts.

This put pressure on the West Bengal government to take urgent steps to contain the situation and step up surveillance.

The Central government has assured all assistance to the State in terms of expertise, equipment and funds. Union Animal Husbandry Commissioner, S.K. Bandyopadhyay, who is the Chief Veterinary Officer , has rushed to the affected areas to assess the situation.

The total number of unusual deaths of poultry birds has been put at 61,075 in the affected districts of Birbhum, Dakshin Dinajpur and Murshidabad, according to the Department of Animal Husbandry.

The situation is being closely monitored and the State government has been asked to take steps for containment and surveillance, said a senior official.

These deaths are being investigated by the State.

Action is also being taken to collect samples and take them to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal.

Sources said 58 Rapid Response Teams were carrying out culling operations in Birbhum district; 26 teams were on the job in Dakshin Dinajpur district.

The State government has been requested to ensure effective functioning of the culling teams and payment of compensation on the spot. The situation is being monitored at the top levels in Government of India on a daily basis.

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