Font Size 
Bird flu spreads in Bengal, no human cases reported
Published on Mon, Jan 21, 2008 at 01:48 in India section
Tags: Bird Flu, Anbumani Ramadoss , New Delhi
Related Stories
Photogallery
 |  |
New Delhi: Fresh cases of bird flu have been confirmed in West Bengal in areas like Nadia, Malda, Murshidabad and new blocks in Burdwan.
Several birds have also reportedly died unnatural deaths in North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghli, and Cooch Behar districts. However, no human cases of avian flu have been reported so far from the state.
In fact, Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss also confirmed on Sunday that “not a single human case has been reported so far.”
Ramadoss also said that the Centre had instructed the West Bengal government to destroy all birds in the affected districts to control the disease.
Culling operations are on for the fifth day in Birbhum and South Dinajpur and should pick up pace when the number of culling teams increase from 60 to 300.
The State Government has set a target of over four lakh poultry birds to be culled in the next few days.
Though the authorities have been urging people in the affected areas to hand over their poultry birds being reared in backyard farms for culling operations, many continue to be reluctant. The Centre is also considering increasing compensation to poultry farmers.
Meanwhile, a dealer in poultry products allegedly committed suicide. His body was found in the English Bazar area of Malda amid suspicions that he took the extreme step fearing that the outbreak in adjoining South Dinajpur district would badly hit his business.
According to reports, countries in the Middleast have banned poultry imports from India.
| Ads by Google |
| Related Ads: | |
Read Comment | Post Comment
Read more comment »