Bird flu alert in Meghalaya

Alarmed over the outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal, an high alert has been sounded in neighbouring Meghalaya to prevent the spread of the disease in that state.

Shillong, Jan 23 : Alarmed over the outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal, an high alert has been sounded in neighbouring Meghalaya to prevent the spread of the disease in that state.

According to state officials, all veterinary officials, especially those posted along the India-Bangladesh border have been directed to take preventive measures.

An extensive awareness campaign has also been introduced.

The State Government has already banned the entry of chickens in the state from outside. Additional gates have been set along the border to keep an eye.

Apart from this, the administration has sent around 100 blood samples of chicken from Ranikor, Borsora, Baghmara and other villages to Bhopal and Kolkata for tests. The Union Animal Husbandry and Health departments' team will reach here today to review the situation.

The state Animal Husbandry and Veterinary department has already conducted surveillance, early detection and vaccination programmes.

So far, seven districts -- Birbhum, Murshidabad, south Dinajpur, Burdwan, Nadia, Bankura and Malda -- in West Bengal have been affected by bird flu.

About 160,000 poultry birds have been culled so far, while over 100,000 birds have succumbed to the disease.

ANI