Four boys, who had been kept under surveillance since July 27 for possible bird flu infection, tested negative for the virus, senior health officials said on Friday. The four boys were found to have been suffering from high fever and suspicions were heightened by poultry deaths in the area. Meanwhile, Rapid Response Teams (RRT) from the Health Department continued intensive house-to-house surveillance within the 10-km radius of the farm in Chingmeirong from where the avian influenza outbreak was first confirmed.

Public Health Additional Director Dr Th Dhiren Singh told The Indian Express on Friday that with the four boys testing negative, there were no human cases so far. “All the four boys are fine and at home. There were considerable poultry deaths in their surroundings 10 days ago and when they all fell ill, we decided to place them under surveillance,” Singh said. He added 45,000 houses have been surveyed by 40 RRTs in the 0-3 km radius and another 74,000 households were covered in the 3-10 km radius.

“While we were carrying out intensive surveillance in the 0-3 km radius with a 2.52 lakh population, we also covered the 4.16 lakh people residing in the 3-10 km zone. Now, 45,000 houses are left and there are no suspicious cases. However, we will be continuing with the surveillance work for the next 10 days,” Singh said.

Meanwhile, a Government press release said the total figure for farm birds culled since July 26 had touched 3,31,606 as on August 2. The release also added that till date, Rs 70 lakh had been paid as compensation to farmers whose poultry had been culled.

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