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Over 1,000 birds culled in Sikkim
Over 1,000 poultry birds have been culled in the bird-flu hit Sikkim as authorities have doubled their efforts to create mass awareness in the northeastern state.
Over 1,000 poultry birds have been culled in the bird-flu hit Sikkim as authorities have doubled their efforts to create mass awareness in the northeastern state.
According to health officials, so far 1,139 birds have been culled since January 20.
A central rapid response team from the health ministry, which was rushed to Gangtok, has started assisting the state health authorities in planning the containment measures, a health official said in New Delhi on Thursday.
The Department of Animal Husbandry Monday notified the outbreak of the flu in poultry in the Hospital Road locality of Ravongla Municipality in south Sikkim district.
So far not a single human case of bird flu has been reported in India.
The official said they were undertaking a massive awareness campaign in the state - by distributing pamphlets and making announcements through radio and television channels.
The health ministry has also provided medicines, protective equipment and masks to the health workers.
The outbreak of the virus has been confirmed in West Bengal and Assam. Till last week, a total of 483,726 birds have been culled in the two states, the official said.
Avian influenza was reported in Assam November 27 and in west Bengal almost three weeks later.
