Bird flu spreads in Assam and Bengal

BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS

KOLKATA/KALYANI/GUWAHATI

Dec. 18: State animal resources development minister Anisur Rahman asked the people in the state to "learn to live with bird diseases".

Mr Rahman feels that in a country like India, outbreak of bird flu is quite but natural and the government also cannot ask the people to stop farming of ducks and chickens. The minister, however, stressed for the development of awareness about the diseases so that it could be prevented. He invited teachers, students and individuals to come up and join hands with the government to make people aware of the disease.

Refuting reports that bird flu has spread to Murshidabad, Mr Rahman said that the H5N1 virus was confined to just one area i.e. the English Bazar in Malda. "Except English Bazar in Malda, there has been no reports of bird flu from any other district in the state. The news of the presence of the virus in Murshidabad was false," he added.

Meanwhile, the Assam bird flu scenario turned severe as it has spread to 11 districts where culling operations are in full swing besides in many parts of the capital city Guwahati.

The health officials said that the bird flu virus was found in some tests conducted by the rapid response team in new areas.

The state government officials clarified that they were unable to meet the deadline of culling as there was a growing fear that it may soon spread to humans.

Incurring daily losses of over Rs 2 crores, especially in this peak season when profits would have doubled, the poultry farmers in flu affected districts has also demanded better compensation package and speedy culling operation so that business could be resumed at the earliest.

"The poultry industry has been adversely affected as we have lost Rs 2.21 crores so far," general secretary of All-Assam Poultry Farmers Association R.K. Sharma said.

The association demanded interest subsidy along the Maharashtra model, where 100 per cent loan subsidy was provided to poultry farmers by clubbing Central and state subsidies.