Bird Flu : 33 villagers under surveillance

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan 30: The Malda health authorities, under the guidance of experts from national institute of communicable diseases (NICD), New Delhi, are keeping close eye on 33 villagers owing to their illness with fever, cough and cold after handling and eating dead birds in Chanchal sub division area where culling operation is going after detection of Bird Flu virus, the Malda chief medical officer said today. “A total of 33 persons who ate dead birds are under surveillance owing to their illness. Though they do not have acute breathing problem, we could not neglect them,” said Mr Radha Raman Banik, the Malda CMOH. The Malda health workers started statutory door to door to visit from yesterday in the Bird Flu affected zone within three and up to 10 km radius from the Bird Flu affected village Mahanandapur in Chanchal I block in northern part of Malda district. According to the CMOH, more than 600 people have reported that they are suffering from cough and cold with light fever. “It does not mean that they are suffering from avian influenza. It is common phenomenon due to present cold wave. At least 10 percent of total population of this district is suffering from this disease. Comparatively the number identified 600 people out of 100,000 population is normal”, Mr. Banik said. Today's rain has hampered surveillance job in the affected zone partly, he said. “A total of 400 people, who are executing culling operation, will be quarantined for 10 days in Chanchal after the end of culling operation”, the Malda CMOH said. The team of NICD along with the Malda CMOH today visited Chanchal area and examined the persons engaged in culling operation. The ARD officials have collected blood samples of ailing birds from Kaliachak III block yesterday and from Kaliachak I block today from several villages according to the direction of doctors from NICD. “The blood samples would be sent to Bhopal through state officials in Kolkata tonight”, said Mr N K Shit, deputy director Malda animal resources development. “Though we have culled more than 76,000 birds out of targeted 80,000 ones but we need two days more to complete culling operation. We need to review the present report to mop up the affected zone”, said Mr Shit. Though price of chicken and its rate of selling have decreased in Malda town following Bird Flu scare but sell of chicken being reared in private farm houses have been increased in rural belts like Kaliachak and block areas. The people belonging to low-income group are buying chicken paying Rs 30 per kg, which comparatively lower than present price of beef, Rs 50 per kg. Similarly the selling rate of egg and its price has fallen in Malda town. The Malda whole sale traders are receiving eggs from Andhra Pradesh with low rate and dumping in the clod storage now.