Bird flu : fresh culling drive in Dinhata on Sunday

 

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 2: Cooch Behar district administration ordered a fresh culling drive in Dinhata. It will be held at the selected villages in Dinhata-I and Dinhata-II blocks tomorrow. A few special culling teams are being prepared for the drive, the district magistrate of Cooch Behar Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said today.

 

It was learnt that culling operation was declared completed in Dinhata on 30 January but reports came to the administration that many birds were kept hidden by the owners to save those from being culled. Moreover, many greedy persons are reportedly bringing in chickens from outside of the affected area against throwaway price to avail the privilege of compensation that was declared by the state government. In a bid to stop the dangerous trend the administration had to plan the special drive.

 

The Cooch Behar DM said to make the culling operation successful in Dinhata tomorrow they are taking help of local NGOs to convince the villagers to co-operate with the culling teams and also for unearthing of the hidden birds. Adequate police personnel will also be deployed to maintain peace during the special drive, he said.

 

When asked about the recent spurt of cold and fever among the villagers in the affected areas the DM said the patients were examined and it was found that they have no symptoms similar to avian flu. The ongoing cold wave may be behind their illness, he said. At the same time he added that teams of health workers are visiting villages regularly to ensure that there are no cases of human infection of avian flu.

 

On the otherhand, culling is being done in villages of Mathabhanga-I block today too. 24,930 birds were culled till last night. Rs 8,37,540 were disbursed as compensation to the villagers till last night.

 

Meanwhile, body a dead kite found in the premises of the hostel of ABN Seal College in the town created sensation today. Officials of concerned department sent it for examination. []