At a time when it appeared that the bird flu virus was waning out in Assam, confirmation of fresh outbreak in five new locations has stunned everyone.
The new locations are one each in Nagaon, Baska and Bongaigaon districts and two in Kamrup district.
Sources said that containment operations are being instituted in the new epicenters. The central rapid response team, stationed at Barpeta, has swung into action in Baksa district. New team has been sent to Nagaon district whereas the teams already in Kamrup and Bongaigoan districts have moved into new locations in these districts.
The avian influenza virus was first detected in a village in Hajo block of Kamrup (rural) district on November 27. It's almost a month past and the state and the central governments are still grappling to control the virus. Bird flu outbreak in Assam has been the most deadliest outbreak in India till now. Nowhere in the country in the recent times did it take such a long time to control the outbreak.
Till now, 4,08,379 birds have been culled in nine locations across the state.
With bird flu spreading at an unprecedented rate, the state's poultry sector is reeling under losses and an uncertain future looms large. As per estimates made by the All Assam Poultry Farmers' Association (AAPFA), the state's poultry sector has incurred a loss of around Rs. 65 crore till recently.
Nearly 5.5 lakh people associated with poultry business in the Assam have been affected since the outbreak, said Rajiv Sarmah, president of AAPFA.
Sarmah said that the business has come to a complete halt across the state and as a result the lives of the farmers, most of whom are marginal, and others associated with the business, has become pitiable.
"Ban or no ban, poultry business has come to a grinding halt. It has really become very difficult for the farmers and others associated with the business to sustain their livelihood as their source of income has suddenly dried up," said Sarmah.
According to him, it would be difficult for marginal farmers to bounce back without the support of government as poultry business has been hit twice this year.
Earlier this year, due to outbreak of bird flu in West Bengal, the poultry sector of Assam too was hit as panic had gripped the state. According to Sarmah, almost 50 per cent of farmers will perish due to non-availability of funds if the government does not announce any scheme for their rehabilitation.
Since the outbreak of bird flu, 50 cases of Upper Respiratory Infection [URI], with fever, has been confirmed among humans. Those people are under surveillance and medical care.
