Bird Flu Spreads outpaces culling in Bengal
Posted by akpwld on January 20, 2008
The bird flu strain H5N1 has started spreading further in West Bengal. The latest addition to the list of the districts infected with this virus was the southern district of Bankura. The Saltora block of the Bankura has been confirmed by the HSADL (High Security Animal Disease Laboratory), Bhopal. Nanoor in worst-hit Birbhum district and three more blocks — Suti I, Sagardighi and Beldanga I — are added to the list.
“We are increasing the number of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) to 400 from the existing 200 to keep pace with the spread of bird flu,” Rahman said.
“The culling was affected on Sunday because of Muharram, but we hope to cope up with the challenge,” he said.
While the minister could not spell out the exact number of poultry birds culled, he said around 130,000 chicken and ducks were culled since Wednesday when the operation began.
Farmers were being handed over tokens at culling sites and asked to contact their panchayat or village block offices for the money. The payment is Rs.40 for a country chicken, Rs.30 for a broiler and Rs.10 for a chick.
While the minister claimed that culling operations had been stepped up, reports from the districts said the process was slow, often due to villagers’ resistance.
But in areas where a large number of poultry birds had died of the infection, the villagers were eager to offer their chickens and ducks for culling.
The H5N1 virus causes a type of influenza in birds that is highly contagious and can be deadly. It does not usually infect people unless they come in close contact with infected birds or contaminated surfaces.
