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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Drama unfolds over donation of late CPI(M) leader's body to govt hospital amid family dispute
Kochi (PTI): Dramatic scenes unfolded at the Ernakulam town hall, where the mortal remains of CPI(M) leader M M Lawrence were kept for public homage, as the late leader's daughter protested the decision to hand over his body to the Government Medical College Hospital here.
The unexpected events occurred after Asha moved the Kerala High Court, challenging the decision of her siblings to donate their father's body to the medical college for educational purposes.
The High Court, after considering the plea, directed the Kalamassery Medical College authorities to hear the objections and take a decision in accordance with the Kerala Anatomy Act.
The court also instructed the college to preserve the body for the time being at the mortuary.
In her petition, the daughter claimed that her father had been baptized and that all his children were baptized in the church.
She further alleged that her siblings along with the Communist party were attempting to project him as an atheist.
Two of Lawrence's children had previously given their consent to handing over the body to the medical college.
Lawrence died on September 21 at the age of 95.
Meanwhile, the ruling CPI(M) clarified that it has no role in the matter.
Whether to hand over the body to the medical college or bury it in a church is a decision for the family, the party said.
CPI(M) district secretary K A Salim said that the decision to hand over the body to the medical college was made by his son.
The court's decision came as the Medical College authorities reached the town hall to take possession of the body.
Asha, the complainant in the case, protested as the body was being handed over to the Medical College authorities amidst chanting of slogans by CPI(M) workers who had gathered to pay their last respects to the departed leader.
Lawrence's son said he decided to hand over the body for medical studies as per his father's last wish.
