African Swine Fever detected in the North West
Zeerust in the North West has reportedly been hit by an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak. It was reported to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) on Wednesday, according to the Department
Avian Flu
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Play enacted to spread awareness on bird flu in Manipur
Theatre artistes are adding to the State's efforts to create mass awareness for the prevention of bird flu in Manipur. Artistes of the Courtyard Theatre staged Aruba Echel (Clear Stream) at Iboyaima Shuman Leela Shanglen Place compound here to send a message across that poultry farming on scientific lines is safe. The play depicts that thousands of unemployed youths could take up poultry farming, cattle farming and piggery and makes a decent living.
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Bongaigaon poultry farmers in dire straits
BONGAIGAON, Feb 11
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Monitoring avian flu (Editorial)
India is one of the 15 countries around the globe affected by the bird flu or avian influenza. The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is concerned. There could be a distinct possibility of the lethally infectious H5NI bird flu virus mutating into a more dangerous form. It could spread rapidly among humans. The FAO has called for close monitoring and strong control efforts to stamp out the menace of avian flu before it's too late.
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Hint of end to bird sale ban
The government is likely to lift its ban on the movement, sale and purchase of chickens, ducks, quails and their eggs from tomorrow after a high-level meeting at Writers' Buildings. The ban was imposed across the state on February 5 for an indefinite period in the wake of the bird flu outbreak in 13 districts. State animal resource development minister Anisur Rahman said tonight that the government was "considering lifting the ban' from tomorrow "since the situation has improved'.
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Fresh chicken deaths in Nadia
KRISHNAGAR, Feb. 10: At a time when it was believed the state has succeeded to get rid of avian influenza after no unnatural deaths of chickens were reported over the past few days, fresh chicken deaths were reported today in Ranaghat-II block in Nadia. According to reports, over 1,300 chickens died of a mysterious disease in different poultry farms in Ranaghat-II block in Nadia. The symptoms of the disease are similar to avian influenza. The district authorities sent a team to collect samples and take note of the situation.
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Border sealed and sterilised against bird flu entry
- As an additional measure to prevent the outbreak of bird flu, the Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) on February 9 started using disinfectants at all entry points along the southern border with India. Import of poultry products from India was banned by BAFRA earlier this year on January 16. All incoming poultry products are being seized and disposed off in biological pits. Starting from 6 in the morning till 10 at night, all vehicles entering the country are being sprayed with water treated with bleaching powder.
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6,000 fowls culled in Gazipur, Bogra
Several thousand fowls were culled in Gazipur and Bogra as reports of chicken dying of bird flu kept pouring in from different parts of the country on Monday. Awareness raising campaigns initiated by various government and local authorities could not stop dumping of dead fowls in the open, risking public health in some areas. Over 6,000 fowls were culled in Gazipur and Bogra after laboratory tests confirmed bird flu outbreak at least in two firms in the districts. About 100 dead chickens were found floating in a canal at Tootpara Mowlabari area in Khulna city Monday morning.
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Culling ends in Kokrajhar
The culling operation in Kokrajhar district has been completed today, the Asom Animal Husbandry and Veterinary sources said. It will take, however, one or two days more to complete the task in Dhubri district due to adverse weather condition yesterday, sources added.
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Bird flu scare revives Jalandhar shuttlecock units
Though the ban on the import of Chinese shuttlecocks due to the bird flu scare might have resulted in the cancellation of the National Badminton Championship, scheduled to be held in Goa, it has proved a blessing for the indigenous shuttlecock units, which were on the verge of closure due to competition from Chinese shuttlecocks. The shuttlecock units of the city, which had migrated from Sialkot after independence, had provided employment to a lot of families since then and the highly skilled labour involved in shuttlecock manufacturing in the city earned fame.
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Poor hygiene makes the state vulnerable
The large poultry industry in Punjab appears vulnerable to the bird flu outbreak in a similar way as it began in West Bengal. Talking to reporters here last week, officials of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) said they had investigated the poultry farms in Ludhiana, Amritsar and Chandigarh in the past few months and found gross negligence on the part of poultry farmers towards the birds.