ARD wakes up before it’s too late

Pranesh Sarkar
KOLKATA, Jan. 4:. Realising that spread of bird flu virus could spell a disaster in the hills of Darjeeling due to the on-going agitation of the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha, the state animal resources development department (ARD) has decided to cull all birds in a hill village where unusual mortality of poultry birds has been reported, even though the presence of the virus is not confirmed yet.
Senior ARD officials said though presence of bird flu virus was yet to be confirmed in the village, it has been decided that all birds in and around the village would be culled to stop the spread of the virus, suspected to be H5N1.
A senior ARD official told The Statesman: “The decision was taken after presence of bird flu was confirmed in Matigara block located in the plains in Darjeeling district on Saturday. After unusual mortality of poultry birds was also reported from Dasberia village in Takada block, it was decided that the department would cull all birds in the hill village without waiting for bird flu confirmation reports.”
“If bird flu spreads to the hills rapidly, it would be tough for the department to keep a lid on it as the hills are already boiling over the Gorkhaland agitation. Culling of poultry birds in a large area of the hills would certainly be a problem in a situation like this,” the official added.
Mr K Saha, director, ARD, said, “Poultry birds in the village would be culled without the confirmation of bird flu as unusual mortality of birds has been reported. The step was taken after we realised that if bird flu spreads rapidly in the hills, it would be tough to stop the spread because of its geographical location. If we wait for bird flu confirmation test reports, the process would be delayed and if the disease is bird flu, it could spread to vast areas by that period.”
The presence of H5N1 virus was confirmed in Matigara on 3 January and prior to this bird flu had hit Malda on 15 December. The state had earlier sought the Centre's assistance to carry out routine surveillance of poultry birds in the hills after the GJMM agitation started, as state officials were facing obstacles in their work in the area.