Flu now hits poultry farms

West Bengal8217;s avian flu epidemic has spread from backyard poultry to the organised sector and entered a new district...

West Bengal8217;s avian flu epidemic has spread from backyard poultry to the organised sector and entered a new district, North 24 Parganas, where 3,500 chicken were found dead in a poultry farm in Baduria, barely 25 km from Kolkata.

Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rahman said samples from North 24 Parganas have been sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal and culling started within a five-km radius of the farm. 8220;Following today8217;s discovery, we will have to revise our culling target as the bird flu has moved into a new district,8221; Rahman said.

Tuesday8217;s report was the first occurrence of large-scale deaths in a poultry farm. With the chicken deaths being reported from North 24 Parganas, Kolkata is now surrounded by bird flu affected districts.

At Tuesday8217;s meeting of the state cabinet, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee impressed upon his colleagues the seriousness of the situation. The CM also advised Rahaman to keep in touch with the Union Government. 8220;I have spoken to Central officials about preventive measures. They have told me that there is a vaccine for the chicken but it cannot be used as the birds have already become carriers,8221; he said after the meeting. The Minister added that the Chief Secretary was following up the US Government8217;s offer of help.

However, in New Delhi, the Union Government said West Bengal has intimated it that no further support was needed from the Centre at this stage. 8220;The Resident Commissioner clearly stated in the meeting that there was no further support needed,8221; said a release issued after a meeting called by the Union Health Minister to review the situation.

The Centre said the infection has spread to some new areas in the already affected Howrah and Birbhum districts, though the outbreak was restricted to small areas. 8220;It is gathered that the infection is not over a wide area but restricted to small pockets,8221; the release said.

Given the established norms that all poultry in regions close to affected areas need to be culled, the rapid response teams engaged in the field culled about 2.38 lakh birds on Monday taking the total number of culled birds to 21.68 lakh.

With ENS in New Delhi