Over 3,200 poultry culled in bird flu-hit Murshidabad district
By IANSSunday, January 17, 2010
NEW DELHI/KOLKATA - Over 3,200 poultry have been culled in bird-flu hit Murshidabad district of West Bengal, a health ministry official said.
A three-member rapid response team from the central government has already reached the state.
Culling of birds has started and so far 3,209 birds have been culled, a central health ministry official said here Sunday.
A Central Rapid Response Team of the health ministry has been deputed to assist the state health authorities. Containment measures have been initiated as per the contingency plan, the official added.
The surveillance activities have started in a 3 km radius of the flu-hit blocks. Out of a total population of 40,266 (spread over 23 villages), 36,514 has been covered.
Though 19 cases of fever have been reported among the people of the region, authorities said none of them had any exposure to sick or dead poultry.
The central health ministry also said that the state government has adequate stock of oseltamivir medicine and personal protective equipment (PPE).
A fresh outbreak of bird flu was reported in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district Jan 14.
