The laboratory tests to establish N-typing of the virus take 5 or 6 days. Immediately after getting the report from the HSADL, Bhopal, the Government of West Bengal was notified and they were requested to take immediate necessary action as per the Action Plan communicated to all the State Governments in November, 2006. Senior officers of DADF are already available on the spot in both Birbhum and South Dinajpur districts to advise and guide the State Government officers.

As per the report received from the State of West Bengal, 55 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have started operation of culling the birds in the affected area of Birbhum district from this morning. Two teams have started operations of culling in the South Dinajpur district. Training and health check-up of the RRTs to be deployed for culling operations was completed on 15th January, 2008. All the members of the team have been provided personal protective equipment like gloves, masks etc. For digging of pits of dispose off the culled birds, 10 JCBs have been mobilized in Birbhum and one in South Dinajpur. Arrangements for payment of compensation on the spot have been made by the State Revenue Department.

As per the available information, the mortality has taken place in three areas viz. five blocks and one municipality in Birbhum, State Poultry Farm, Balurghat, Dakshin Dinajpur and three villages of adjoining Murshidabad district. The problem is, therefore, localized. However, Government of West Bengal and another neighbouring States like Jharkhand and Bihar have already been alerted for maintaining high level of surveillance.

A meeting of district authorities of the Birbhum district, State Animal Husbandry Department officers and officers of the Central Team was held on 15th January, 2008 (evening) to finalise the strategy for control and containment operations.

As per latest information, a total mortality of 54402 poultry birds has taken place in the Birbhum district, 1000 poultry birds in three villages of Khargaon Block falling in the adjoining district of Murshidabad and 266 poultry birds in the State Poultry Farm, Bolurghat, South Dinajpur. On receipt of report of mortality of 1000 birds in three villages of Khargaon block in Murshidabad district samples have been collected for sending to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal. Intensive surveillance in adjoining areas is continuing for any unusual mortality of poultry bird.

In order to spread awareness about the bird flu, the district administration has also printed about two lakhs pamphlets in Bangla.

Further Reading

- You can visit the Avian Flu page by clicking here.