# 2563
Despite an earlier report to the contrary, the Hindustan Times is reporting new outbreaks of bird deaths in Assam state, casting doubt on the `nearly complete' status of the cull there.
First the `optimistic' report, from New Kerala earlier today.
First phase of culling operation completed in Assam
Guwahati, Dec 17 : The first phase of culling operation has been completed in the bird flu-affected Kamrup, Nalbari, Barpeta and Dibrugarh districts of Assam.
One lakh more poultry birds are to be culled in these areas during mopping operations, which has already been taken up.
Culling operation in Sarpara, Patgaon and Raja Bazar areas of Kamrup district has been completed.No fresh report of spread of the disease has been received from anywhere in the State.
In sharp contrast, the Hindustan Times is reporting that bird flu has spread to 3 new districts in Assam.
Bird flu spreads
Bird flu spread to three more areas in Assam on Wednesday, taking to 12 the total number of areas affected in the state.
As culling operations were in full swing in the northeastern state, culling of chickens in West Bengal’s Malda district, 340 km north of Kolkata, fell way behind target.
A section of villagers refused to hand over their poultry to health officials on the second day of culling in the Englishbazar area of Malda.
For the 400 families of the village, rearing chickens and ducks is the only means of livelihood. “Villagers said the money they are being offered would not be enough to buy new chickens,” said an official who did not want to be named.
The state government is paying compensations of Rs 50, Rs 40 and Rs 75 for chickens, broiler chickens and ducks, respectively. This is Rs 10 more than the amount paid per bird during the culling operations in January this year.
And in neighboring West Bengal, where culling operations got off to a very slow start yesterday, new reports of bird deaths are coming in.
This report from The Hindu.
Culling continues amid further deaths
Special Correspondent
KOLKATA: Even as culling entered the second day in parts of West Bengal’s Malda district, where avian flu has struck, fresh deaths of poultry birds were reported from surrounding places on Wednesday, giving rise to fears of the disease spreading.
Officials of the district animal resources development department have been asked to collect samples from birds which died in the Rathua area and send them for examination, District Magistrate Sridhar Ghosh told The Hindu over telephone from Malda.
So far, more than 3,000 poultry birds were culled in the villages surrounding the area where birds had died of the disease, he said.
Twenty-two teams were engaged in the culling operations and another 12 were expected to join them on Thursday. More than 16,000 poultry birds were to be destroyed.
“Authorities in all districts of the State have been instructed to intensify surveillance in the wake of the bird flu deaths in parts of Malda district,” Animal Resources Development Minister Anisur Rahaman said.
Yesterday there were reports of hundreds of dead crows in Budhia village at Norhatta, near where last week's poultry deaths occurred. This report from The Statesman (Hat tip Shiloh on Flutrackers)
Hundreds of crows die after poultry deaths
Statesman News Service
MALDA, Dec. 16: Hundreds of crows have died since yesterday in Budhia village at Norhatta in English Bazaar block, the spot where more than 3,500 chickens died of Bird Flu, causing panic among the people.
The villagers suspect that the dead crows might have eaten the carcass of the Bird Flu affected chickens. The CMOH, Malda, Mr Srikanta Roy, said that this could be a possibility.
Despite the situation, there is no awareness campaign at Norhatta against consumption of chicken. Children could be seen playing around with the dead crows that had simply fallen off the trees in the area. It may be noted that the local gram panchayat yesterday decided to inform people that they should not eat chicken.
Mostaq Mian, a resident of Budhia village, said that despite warnings, the people are consuming the dead chickens. “They do not know about Bird Flu and termed it Ranikhet, a disease often found in poultry, the people are consuming the dead birds,” he said. To substantiate the claim, Mrs Rosia Bibi, a resident of the area said that she ate chicken yesterday and today and yet nothing had happened to her or her family members.
The Malda CMOH, Mr Roy, said that the multipurpose workers, including the ICDS and other voluntary workers were asked to inform the people against consuming dead birds. “We have decided to ask the religious figureheads to announce the same from the mosques during prayer sessions,” he added.
“We have not received instructions to cull crows till now. We are monitoring the situation and completion of culling is our first priority,” said Malda ADM Mr PC Sit.
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