'Chicken guinea' fever not related to chicken or bird flu

Bhopal, June 11 (UNI) 'Chicken guinea' fever -- a disease that has affected people in some villages of Chhindwara and Betul districts in Madhya Pradesh -- has nothing to do with chicken or bird flu.

Veterinary Services Commissioner Rajesh Rajora told UNI here that the 'chicken guinea' disease was caused by a virus.

Pointing out that 'chicken guinea' cases had been seen in India since 1965, he said mosquitoes were the carriers of disease.

Dr Rajora said a lone bird flu case had been detected at Ichhapur in this state's Burhanpur district, adjoining Maharashtra.

''Since then, more than 5,000 samples were examined, but none of them tested positive. The veterinary services department had issued a sanitisation certificate on April 24 regarding bird flu,'' he said.

Dr Rajora added that vigil was being maintained in areas adjoining Maharashtra and Gujarat.

UNI SD-PS DKS VV1712