Two members of culling team show suspected infection symptoms

Kolkata (PTI): Two members of the culling team, who were admitted to hospital, in South 24-Parganas have shown signs of suspected bird flu infection while fresh chicken deaths were reported from neighbouring Howrah city and culling operations on in some affected areas.

Two persons, both members of a culling team deployed at Budge Budge in South 24-Parganas were admitted to hospital with symtoms of influenza, official sources said on Monday.

Animal Resources Development Secretary D Chakraborty confirmed that one Tarak Nath Haldar was admitted to M R Bangur Hospital in the city and his blood sample was sent to NICD for examination but said there was no report of any human infection of avian inflenza.

Mohd Azizul Rahman was admitted to Budge Budge Rural Hospital yesterday, district chief medical officer, health, Sachidananda Sarkar told PTI.

The report of the tests conducted on them was awaited and doctors were monitoring their condition, the district report said.

Howrah District Magistrate Khalil Ahmed said 278 chicken had died in the past three days at Bokapara and Sultanpur in Howrah Muncipal Corporation limits and samples had been sent for testing.

Chakraborty said as of now, 33.86 lakh birds had been culled and the operation was still on at some areas of Debra of West Midnapore and at Canning-II block in South 24 Parganas districts.

In most other areas, mopping up operation was continuing with police help within five-km radius of the affected areas in Bankura, Purulia, Burdwan, South Dinajpur, Birbhum, Murshidabad and some areas of North 24 Parganas districts.