Bird flu : fresh culling drive in Dinhata

                     Anthrax fear in Mathabhanga

  

COOCH BEHAR, Feb. 3: Following instructions from Cooch Behar district administration a fresh culling drive was held in Dinhata today. It was held at a few selected villages of Gitaldaha-I, Gitaldaha-II and Okrabari Gram Panchayats under Dinhata-I and Dinhata-II blocks. Six specially deputed culling teams conducted 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 areas against throwaway price to avail the privilege of the compensation package that was declared by the state government. In a bid to stop this dangerous trend the administration had to plan today's special drive.

 

To make the culling operation successful in Dinhata they took help of local NGOs to convince the villagers to co-operate with the culling teams and also for unearthing of the hidden birds, the DM said. Adequate police personnel were also deployed to maintain peace during the special drive, he said.

 

On the otherhand, culling was declared completed last night in Mathabhanga-I block. 32,299 birds were culled there and Rs 10,87,280 were disbursed as compensation to the villagers till last night.

 

Sudden death of five cows on Friday night fuelled anthrax fear at Nishiganj under Mathabhanga-I. Deputy director of Animal Resources Development department Dr Tapan Kumar Roy said they collected blood samples for examination. If the samples turn positive of Anthrax the cattle of the entire area will be vaccinated to stop spreading of the infectious disease, he assured.

 

Meanwhile, the Central observer Dr Vijay Kumar who came from New Delhi to monitor and supervise the bird flu situation in this district visited Jaridharla village in Dinhata yesterday. This village was the first in this district from where the samples were tested positive of bird flu virus. Dr Kumar inquired about the present situation of the village and preventive measures taken after completion of culling.

 

When asked about the recent spurt of ailment with cold and fever among the villagers in the bird flu 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. []