Bird flu scare confined to Malda

First Published : 22 Dec 2008 08:38:35 AM IST

Last Updated : 22 Dec 2008 10:26:06 AM IST

BHUBANESWAR: With bird flu scare still confined to Malda district of West Bengal, Orissa is breathing easy.

Last time during January-February, the mass deaths of poultry were reported from Midnapore district bordering Balasore and Mayurbhanj sending the Orissa Government into a tizzy.

However, this time around Malda, about 600 km from the border, has been the centre of problem. ‘‘So far, we have not received any report from West Bengal about spread of the avian flu districts other than Malda. But we are leaving nothing to chance,’’ a senior officer said.

By Sunday, 1,83,600 poultry birds have been vaccinated against the Ranikhet disease in the eight districts.

Similarly, 1,246 blood samples were sent to Kolkata-based Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory and another 50 to Highrisk Security Animal Diseases Laboratory, Bhopal, for examination. ‘‘So far, we have not received any positive report from any of the two,’’ the official said.

The Animal Resources Development Department had already imposed prohibitory orders at the checkgates of eight districts but a close watch is kept at Mayurbhanj and Balasore. The department’s field staff have so far conducted awareness meetings at 131 villages in the two districts.