Mopping up drive in Malda over

Statesman News Service

MALDA, March 26: “The animal resource development (ARD) officials today completed the mopping up drive amidst tight security to control the spread of the avian flu virus in English Bazaar,” Mr NK Shit, deputy director, ARD, Malda said. The number of police personnel was increased in each rapid response team (RRT) after team members reported yesterday that villagers unwilling to hand over their poultry for culling threatened them to beat them up. “Apprehending attack from the people during mopping up drive the number of police personnel was increased. Yesterday, we had been able to collect only 510 birds after the mopping up drive. No untoward incident was reported today.“It is difficult to kill all birds in hideouts. We are just trying to control the spread of the virus in the area. We will chalk out another strategy according to the guide line of our higher authorities if we find stray birds in the area,” Mr NK Shit said.The Central observer, Mr V Kumar, yesterday reviewed the position of the culling operation and mopping up drive here and advised the ARD officials to monitor the affected zone in keeping with specific guidelines. The team from the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NICED) today met the deputy director of ARD in Malda to keep the affected zone under observation post culling. While the Malda zilla parishad sabhadhipati Mr Goutam Chakraborty claimed that many people were suffering from respiratory problems and were admitted to the Malda district hospital, the CMOH said: “We do not have any such information”.

Pigeon deaths spark flu scare

The fear of Bird Flu gripped English Bazaar town today following unusual death of pigeons at Kalitala. More than 10 birds were found dead in this area. Officials from the animal resources development department visited the area where the dead pigeons were found. They examined the ded birds and collected necessary samples for tests. Observing the symptoms, the deputy director, ARD, Mr. N K Shit said: "Pigeons may have died from paracide infection or due to lack vitamin B complex". Though fresh poultry deaths are being reported from several areas in English Bazaar and Kaliachak area, the deputy director said he was officially not aware of the development.” We had sent a team at Natun Nagharia but the team did not spot any dead or ailing birds there”.