Bengalbirdflu

Kolkata/New Delhi: Bird flu spread on Monday to fresh areas in two affected districts in West Bengal, after which the target for slaughtering of birds in poultries was pushed up to 27 lakh from 21 lakh.

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In West Midnapore, where the avian influenza affected only one village on Sunday, the disease spread to 107 villages in Debra block, District Magistrate N S Nigam said.

In Murshidabad district, the disease spread to Shamsherganj block, taking the number of affected blocks to 10, District Magistrate Subir Bhadra told PTI.

Animal Resources Development minister Anisur Rahaman said in Kolkata that the culling target had been raised to 25 lakh from 21 lakh, with the day's target at 2 lakh birds.

In Delhi, Union Animal Husbandry Secretary Pradeep Kumar said that as per current estimate the culling target is 27 lakh.

In Coochbehar, the work of destroying chicken in affected Mathabhanga block I was advanced to Monday, to check its spread, Additional District Magistrate (Development) Pannalal Mahapatra said.

About 28,000 domestic birds had been destroyed in Dinhata blocks I and II in the district till last night by 50 teams in four gram panchayat areas. The culling target was 70,000 in the area, he said.

Culling teams sent to Chakbelcha and adjoining villages in West Midnapore district during the day faced stiff resistance from the people.

Later after the intervention of the sub-divisional officer and the additional district magistrate only 500 birds could be destroyed.

“We are discussing the parameters of a relief package,” Kumar told reporters in New Delhi, adding the Agriculture Ministry will hold a meeting of the poultry industry on Wednesday to take their views on the matter.

West Bengal government also decided to give an interim relief of Rs 500 to every affected family, Bhattacharjee said.

Stressing on the need for mopping and disinfection operations once culling was over, Kumar said natural mortality of birds due to the virus has seen a dip, which was a good sign.

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