Special Correspondent
| About 60 RRTs are carrying out culling of ducks and chickens in Assam |
More than 50,000 birds have been culled in Kamrup district so far
Palashbari and Hajo circles of Kamrup district are the worst-affected
GUWAHATI: Bird Flu virus has spread to two more districts — Barpeta and Nalbari — in lower Assam prompting the State Veterinary department to rush Rapid Response Teams (RRT)s to these two districts for beginning culling operations from Saturday.
About 60 RRTs have been carrying out culling of ducks and chickens in lower Assam’s Kamrup and where the disease broke out first. Later, the outbreak of the disease was reported in Kamrup (Metrpolitan) district.
State Veterinary Director Aswini Kataki told The Hindu that the department on Thursday night received a communiqué from the Central government that the Bhopal-based High Security Animal Disease Laboratory tests had confirmed strains of the deadly H5N1 avian influenza in bird samples from Barpeta and Nalbari too.
Culling operationsThe state government has ordered culling operations within 3-km radius of the epicentres of the disease in the two districts.
The epicentres in Barpeta district are Katajhar village under the Gobardhana block and while the epicentre in Nalbari district is Katla village under Pachim Nalbari Block of the district.
An estimated 30,000 birds are to be culled in Gobardhana and estimated 15,000 birds within three-km radius of the Katla village in Nalbari district.
Asked about the preparedness of the department to fight spread of the disease to other districts, Mr. Kataki said that the department had 432 fully equipped RRTs ready for deployment. Each RRT comprises seven personnel, including one veterinarian.
The official said more than 50,000 birds had been culled in Kamrup district so far. Palashbari and Hajo circles of the district were worst affected.
An estimated 2.5 lakh birds would be culled in Kamrup district.
In Kamrup (metropolitan) H5N1 avian influenza were confirmed in bird samples from Patgaon, following which culling began in 11 villages within three-km radius from this epicentre.
The district administrations concerned had already clamped ban on sale and movement of ducks, chickens and eggs from the affected areas.
Ban on saleKamrup Deputy Commissioner Ramesh Chand Jain had earlier clamped a ban on sale and movement of ducks, chickens and eggs in the entire district.
However, on Friday he issued a fresh directive limiting the ban only to 62 villages of the Palashbari revenue circle.
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