|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
By Category |
 |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
India On Media |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
| Others
News |
|
| West Bengal appeals over bird flu |
| Officials in the Indian state of West Bengal have appealed to other states to help cull up to two million chickens suspected of having bird flu.
|
| INDIA
, 23-January-2008
2:45:11 AM |
| Their appeal comes as health experts in the state warn that the disease threatens to spiral out of control.
A team of officials from Delhi has told the state government that the pace of the culling operation is too slow.
Some birds were found to be carrying the H5N1 virus which can cause avian influenza in humans, officials say.
Poultry ban
"There is every chance of the virus spiralling out of hand if it's too late," Sanchita Bakshi, the state health services director told the Reuters news agency.
Officials say that the disease now affects seven of the 19 districts in West Bengal, with a combined population of 24 million people.
Meanwhile Nepal has banned poultry imports from India and there are fears about an outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring Bangladesh.
West Bengal has sealed a stretch of its border with Bangladesh, which has been fighting to contain the spread of bird flu since March last year.
State Health Minister Surya Kanta Mishra appealed to eight other Indian states - including Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu - for assistance in the culling operation after meeting with a team of health officials from Delhi on Tuesday.
The BBC's Amitabha Bhattasali in Calcutta says that the team from Delhi is concerned that the cull in West Bengal is too slow and that so far only about 300,000 birds have been disposed of.
Our correspondent say the authorities face a major logistical challenge, because many of the chickens in infected areas roam around in the open and in many cases have to be chased and caught before being killed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ADVERTISEMENTS
Free offer!!! Become an administrator for your zip home page, "Post" local news (local to your postcode)& pictures, "Post" advertisement banners from local companies. Make Extra money.
|
 |
 |
|
|
| |
|
