Bird flu: villagers stall culling on Day 2

They were mostly employees of the Animal Resources Development (ARD) department and were brought in from different districts.

The villagers on their part took out protest rallies, complaining about inadequate compensation.

Reports of agitation and resentment poured in from different affected villages. Villagers refused to hand over their poultry for culling at the compensation rate announced. The villagers also protested digging up pits to bury the chicken.

Later, the operation could be only partially resumed in 127 villages of five affected blocks, including Rampurhat 1 and 2, Nalhati 1 and 2, Mayureshwar 1 and Muraroi 1 and 2. Chicken in two private poultries were also destroyed. Officials said 8,600 chicken and ducks were culled on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, UN experts on Thursday said there were more “serious” risk factors that are associated with the current outbreak than previously encountered bird flu in the country. The reason: “the affected areas are more widespread because of proximity of extended border areas.”

The UN reaction comes a day after the Animal Husbandry Department alleged that the state Government had delayed reacting to cases of “unusual” mortality.

The High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal has tested one sample each from Birbhum and South Dinajpur districts as positive for the H5 AI strain. Preliminary tests also suggest the N1 sub-type, but there is no confirmation. The final report to establish the N-typing (whether it is N1, N2, N3, etc) of the virus would take 5-6 days, according to Government sources.

(With Teena Thacker in New Delhi)