Bird culling drive in Dibrugarh over

DIBRUGARH, Dec 28 – The bird culling drive carried out by 25 Rapid Response Teams (RRT) in Dibrugarh is over and at least 15606 birds, including ducks, were culled during the drive, informed District Veterinary Officer Dr Manik Das.

Dr Das said that over Rs 6 lakh was spent to compensate the farmers whose birds were killed. Barring ward 21 and 22 of the Dibrugarh Municipality which did not fall within the three kilometre radius from the bird flu detected location, the rapid response teams moved to all the remaining 20 wards for culling, the officer said.

Culling of birds was ordered in Dibrugarh following detection of the disease in one of the poultry farms in Chiring Chapori here. The culling started on December 12. Raising of birds and ducks in the 20 wards of the municipality will now remain suspended for at least three months. However, random collection of blood samples of birds, visits to poultry farms and sanitation drive in the farms within a radius of 10 kilometre distance will be conducted once in every fortnight as part of its post surveillance operation, Veterinary Department told this Correspondent.

Culling operations in Assam almost complete

Guwahati, Dec 19 : In Assam, culling process of poultry in the bird flu affected locations is almost completed. Outbreak of the dreaded disease was confirmed in 12 locations of seven districts in the State.

The State Director of Veterinary Dr. Aswani Katoky told our Correspondent in Guwahati this evening that except in Sirang district, culling operation has been completed in all other locations. However, mopping and disinfection activities are on in those areas where culling has been completed.

Nearly five lakh poultry birds have been culled in the state as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, the State Government has formulated an alternative scheme to offset the losses suffered by families due to outbreak of bird flu in the avian influenza affected areas.

The State Commissioner for Veterinary Mr. Shyamlal Mewara told our Correspondent that under the programme a pair of goats or pigs would be provided to the affected families for their alternative source of livelihood. Subsidy on bank loan interests is also in the pipeline for the poultry farmers affected due to the culling operation.