Nearly 4,000 chickens, ducks to be culled as Jharkhand reports bird flu outbreak
Ranchi, Feb 25: Nearly 4,000 birds, including chickens and ducks, will be culled in Jharkhand's Bokaro district after a bird flu outbreak was reported at a state-run poultry farm, an official said on Saturday.
H5N1, a type of avian influenza virus, was confirmed among a protein-rich breed of chicken, 'Kadaknath', at the farm in the Lohanchal where 800 birds died and 103 had to be culled, he said.
"A total of 3,856 birds, including chickens and ducks, have been identified for culling in the affected area -- 1 km radius of the farm," Institute of Animal Health & Production director Dr Bipin Bihari Mahtha told PTI.
After birds started to die at the farm on February 2, samples were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal for testing and the flu was confirmed, he said.
A process has been started to determine the compensation for the people whose chicken and ducks will be culled, he added.
The district administration has already declared areas within 1 km radius of the farm as the affected zone, while areas within 10 km radius have been declared surveillance zone. It also banned the sale of chicken and ducks in the district.
Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Arun Kumar Singh earlier said the state was on an alert.
A medical team was formed to monitor the border areas of the district, and for the sampling of chickens and ducks at large farms. Besides, it has also been asked to collect samples of people living in the affected zone.
A separate ward has been set up at the Sadar Hospital for people infected with bird flu.
Symptoms of the infection among humans include severe upper back pain, fever, cough, shortness of breath, cold and blood in the sputum, officials said.
The Animal Husbandry Department issued an advisory, urging people to inform it if they see dead birds.
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School headmaster arrested for beating student
Sultanpur (UP) (PTI): Police arrested a primary school headmaster on Saturday for allegedly beating a Class 1 student with a stick.
The incident took place on Friday at a primary school in Tikaria Pure Hela village under the Kudwar police station area in Sultanpur, police said.
The victim, identified as Shivansh, is a Class 1 student at the school.
According to the student, a dispute arose between him and his classmate Saurabh.
As the argument escalated, Saurabh called his mother to the school. Based on her complaint, the headmaster allegedly beat Shivansh with a stick in the afternoon, the student said.
Shivansh's father, Vikas Sharma, resides in Lucknow, and the child is currently living with his maternal grandparents in Tikaria village for his studies.
Circle Officer (City) Saurabh Samant said police registered a case against the accused headmaster following a complaint. "A case was lodged, and the accused has been arrested. Further legal proceedings are underway," he said.
