Jalpaiguri declared bird flu-hit

Jalpaiguri became the third district to be declared bird flu-hit for the second time after Malda and Murshidabad, with death of 112 chicken reported from its Sadar sub-division.

Jalpaiguri became the third district to be declared bird flu-hit for the second time after Malda and Murshidabad, with death of 112 chicken reported from its Sadar sub-division, official sources said on Wednesday.

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The deaths occurred among backyard poultry in Boalmari under Jalpaiguri Sadar sub-division, Banamali Roy of Jalpaiguri Zilla Parishad said.

Samples sent to the High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory (HSADL) in Bhopal had tested positive for H5N1 virus, Roy said. The district administration has convened a meeting today to chalk out a strategy to combat the situation, Roy said.

Over a week ago, avian flu was reported from English Bazar in Malda and Raghunathganj and Jiaganj areas in Murshidabad district. Avian flu deaths among poultry had been reported earlier from Falakata area in Jalpaiguri district.