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Editor-in-Chief & President
Alert in Tripura following Bangladesh bird flu report
<SMALL>Malaysia Sun
Saturday 31st March, 2007
(ANI)</SMALL>
Agartala (Tripura), Mar 31 : The Tripura Government is on alert following reports of bird flu in Bangladesh.<SMALL>Malaysia Sun
Saturday 31st March, 2007
(ANI)</SMALL>
"Five days back, we heard of bird flu in Bangladesh. At once, the rate of chicken in the local market fell from 70 to 55-60 rupees. We are suffering great losses," said Pradip Ray, a poultry farmer.
Tripura imports large amounts of poultry and related products fromangladesh.
Officials said that the border police has been asked to ensure there is no movement of poultry from across the border.
"In the border areas, our officials are also there. They are also keeping vigilance. At the same time, we have already informed the Inspector-General, Border Security Force, so he can instruct all his personnel posted along the border areas, so that no entry of poultry, ducks and poultry products from Bangladesh takes place," Samar Kanti Mitra, the Deputy Director of Animal Resource Development Department said.
A bird flu investigation cell has been set up in Agartala and farmers have been asked to inoculate their livestock, he added.
He also said that forest officials have also been alerted to keep a vigil on migratory birds.
Bangladesh has culled about 60,000 birds since confirming the outbreak of the HFN1 virus simultaneously on six farms on March 22.
A Bangladeshi Government official has said the flu has since spread to five other farms.
India had culled hundreds of thousands of birds last year, when it reported its first outbreak of the virus in Nandurbar. No human infections were reported.
The virus has killed 167 people worldwide since 2003.
http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/303b19022816233b/id/238202/cs/1/