The Hindu : Front Page : West Bengal stops movement of poultry products from Assam

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Monday, Dec 15, 2008
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West Bengal stops movement of poultry products from Assam

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: The death of some poultry birds over the past two days in the English Bazaar block of West Bengal’s Malda district has raised fears of an attack of avian flu in the district.

“Samples from the dead birds have been sent for tests to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Kolkata,” Malda’s Additional District Magistrate (General) P.C. Sit, told The Hindu over telephone on Sunday.

“Experience suggests the possibility of a recurrence of bird flu attacks after a major outbreak. No culling operation in the aftermath of such outbreaks are foolproof,” said an official of the district’s Animal Resources Development Department said.

20,000 birds culled

More than 20,000 poultry birds had been culled following an outbreak of avian flu in the English Bazaar block in January-February this year.

Movement of poultry products into the State from adjoining Assam has been stopped following reports of outbreak of the disease in some parts of that State, said R.K. Sinha, District Magistrate, Cooch Behar.

Border sealed

Cooch Behar shares a border with Assam.

“The border has been sealed for the past week as far as poultry birds and products are concerned. Surveillance is being conducted in the district and there have been no reports of bird deaths so far,” he added.

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