Tripura free from bird flu: HSADL

Agartala, Aug 8 (UNI) High Security Disease Laboratory (HSADL), Bhopal, has given clean cheat to Tripura about the existence of avian influenza in the state.

Animal Husbandry Department today received the HSADL report, which stated that the samples from Dibyoday Krishi Bigyan Kendra at Khowai of West Tripura District had been tested negative for avian influenza (H5 and H7).

The state government had sent the bird sample to HSADL last week apprehending catastrophic consequence of avian influenza following sudden death of more than 365 chickens in two days.

However, the initial investigation of Animal Resource department had found "Bursal" disease responsible for the death.

According to sources, HSADL had not yet given the report on the samples from Vawmbuk village, Saiha District, Mizoram.

There had been no reported case of bird flu in other states of the Northeast, but the discovery of the virus in Manipur had led to panic in the region with authorities in the adjoining states of Tripura, Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram sounding a general alert.

The Manipur government had sounded a general alert across the state and banned the sale and purchase of poultry after the Health and Animal Husbandry department confirmed that tests carried out on chickens, which died at the Chenngmeirong farm of the state, were positive for bird flu.

" We have held high level meetings and are taking all precautionary measures to control H5N1 strain of the virus spread to other states, and the movement of chicken and other poultry from outside the state has been restricted, " Tripura Animal Husbandry Minister Pranab Debbarmma said.

UNI