Hundreds of crows die after poultry deaths

Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 16:

Hundreds of crows have died since yesterday in Budhia village at Norhatta in English Bazaar block, the spot where more than 3,500 chickens died of Bird Flu, causing panic among the people.
The villagers suspect that the dead crows might have eaten the carcass of the Bird Flu affected chickens. The CMOH, Malda, Mr Srikanta Roy, said that this could be a possibility.
Despite the situation, there is no awareness campaign at Norhatta against consumption of chicken. Children could be seen playing around with the dead crows that had simply fallen off the trees in the area. It may be noted that the local gram panchayat yesterday decided to inform people that they should not eat chicken.
Mostaq Mian, a resident of Budhia village, said that despite warnings, the people are consuming the dead chickens. “They do not know about Bird Flu and termed it Ranikhet, a disease often found in poultry, the people are consuming the dead birds,” he said. To substantiate the claim, Mrs Rosia Bibi, a resident of the area said that she ate chicken yesterday and today and yet nothing had happened to her or her family members.
The Malda CMOH, Mr Roy, said that the multipurpose workers, including the ICDS and other voluntary workers were asked to inform the people against consuming dead birds. “We have decided to ask the religious figureheads to announce the same from the mosques during prayer sessions,” he added.
“We have not received instructions to cull crows till now. We are monitoring the situation and completion of culling is our first priority,” said Malda ADM Mr PC Sit.