KOLKATA: Poultry deaths in North 24-Parganas might not have resulted from bird flu, believe animal husbandry officials and a section of experts. Even though samples are yet to be sent to the High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory in Bhopal for testing, the symptoms observed so far are closer to Ranikhet disease than H5N1 or the bird flu virus, they said.
All precautions, though, have already been taken to ensure that chickens from the affected areas don't reach either Kolkata or any of the other districts, according to the animal husbandry department. It has already resulted in a marginal price rise of chicken in the city.
"We have sent the samples for analysis. As of now, it doesn't seem to be bird flu for it's rare at this time of the year. The symptoms are more like Ranikhet disease. Also, had it been bird flu, it wouldn't have been restricted to just the organized poultries. The backyard farms would have also been affected," said an animal husbandry official.
Meanwhile, the ban on chickens from North 24-Paragans, which supply around 60% of Kolkata's chicken, has led to a spurt in price. The cost of a kg has gone up from Rs 88 last week to around Rs 92 now. Midnapore, Birbhum and Howrah are now catering to the Kolkata market. "We have instructed poultries in North 24-Paraganas not to supply to Kolkata. Supply won't be affected in Kolkata for the other districts are now providing more. But this could lead to a scarcity in the districts," said Avijit Kanjilal of the West Bengal Poultry Federation.
The federation has already taken steps to check the spread of the virus. "Initial signs suggest that this is not a flu outbreak. But we are taking no chances. Disinfectants have already been sent to farms in every south Bengal district. The affected poultries in North 24-Parganas have been shut down. We shall distribute more disinfectants over the next few days," added Kanjilal.
Microbiologists said the outbreak was less likely to be bird flu. "First, it's unlikely at this time of the year. More importantly, had it been H5N1, it would have spread by now. It could be some other virus like the Ranikhet disease. But we can't be sure unless the samples are checked," said a microbiologist at the West Bengal University of Animal and Fisheries Sciences.
Nurul Haq, secretary of the animal resoucres development ministry, said that local tests had confirmed that it wasn't bird flu. "It could be either Ranikhet disease or some other virus. We have sent the samples to Bhopal and shall wait for the report," Haq said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Its-not-a-bird-flu-outbreak-Experts/articleshow/16100055.cms
