J'khand govt remains alert over avian flu

Ranchi, Jan 20 (UNI) Despite death of about 200 chickens in the past few days at Angara block under Iddgawa village, 45 km from here, the Jharkhand government today ruled out break out of avian flu in the state so far.

The village shares border with Purulia in West Bengal.

Alarmed at the death rate of poultry, a veterinary team led by Dr Taran Singh visited the site and collected samples, which would be sent to Bhopal for laboratory test.

Director poultry Bindeswari Choudhury told UNI here that the situation was under control and the state was prepared to meet any eventuality.

Asked about the cause of sudden rise in death of poultry at Angara, an official source said the traders of chicken were not being able to sell them and hence were not feeding the birds adequately.

The underfed poultry now fell prey easily to sudden fall in temperature in the past few days, he said.

The Jharkhand government has already sealed the borders of its nine districts in the wake of the deadly Avian flu in West Bengal and constituted a high-level committee to monitor the situation.

The committee decided to seal borders of Ranchi, Singhbhum, Chaibasa, Dhanbad, Bokaro, Dumka, Jamtara, Pakur and Sahebganj with the neighbouring state.

Meanwhile, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences has said adequate measures have been taken to meet any sort of eventuality.

UNI PRS KK RN1740