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Bird Flu Alert

By Rituparna Goswami Pande |
The flu – bird flu is back with a bang. The state Animal Husbandary and Veterinary Department sounded a health alert on Avian influnza in poultry in all the districts of Assam.

Following the Bird Flu outbreak in Bengal the state has beefed up security measures so as to curb its effect in the state. Reports are rife that the bird flu outbreak in Bengal could turn out to be the worst in the country and may measure up to the crisis faced by Thailand, Bangladesh and Vietnam.

Assam sounded its alert in the bordering districts which share borders with Bengal including Goalpara, Dubri, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon.

RK Sharma, the deputy Secretary, Veterinary and Animal Husbandary Department stated that steps are afoot to prevent the spread of the disease in different parts of the state. The Rapid Response Team (RPT) has also been set into motion in all the districts to keep a watch on the situation.

In a state level meeting between the Commissioner and Secretary of Animal Husbandary and Veterinary Department it was decided that the district administrations would intensify the vigil in border areas and ensure that no poultry products enter the state from the neighbouring state.

Mentionably, around 7,000 poultry enters the northeast in the market everyday via Assam. And the biggest share is consumed in Assam itself. Traders of poultry are looking at the eyes of huge losses as the bird flu alert is surely going to bring down the sale of poultry in the markets.

There is no reason to panic as yet for no case of bird flu has been reported and that enough stock of vaccine is available if the need arises.
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jaay's picture

Submitted by jaay on Sat, 02/02/2008 - 16:25
Modern times throw challenges to not only humanity but everybody associated with the nature and then the only one who seems to be fighting or rather trying to set it right are the human being. Why? Why AIDS/ Cancer /Asthma does not bother anybody else but human, I mean there are animals, birds, mammals and scores of other things who are in nature. Maybe the answer lies in the fact that humans have probably invaded the space of not only his but other beings too. Not that because I am a Vegetarian, I am trying to put across this point, but because I think there has to be a fine line existing between us and THEM and which we cross so often, like inhaling them or coming in contact with them with too much of proximity. This is a dangerous trend and it has been there forever, but what is that, that in this time and hour, it taking the toll. Killing birds in scores now and then stopping it is not the answer, because we had this menace in past too and we thought it had gone, but it struck again. Something is terribly wrong and we must address it individually. It is the collective responsibility of each individual living on this space to set it right and try not to meddle with nature, not matter who anybody is. The government should stringent measure and people should not debate on what reimbursements they are getting, for saving one bird because of 10 Rupee can cost dearly. Well written article, you touch the hearts, as usual.

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