Poultry owners in WB of denial

Poultry owners in West Bengal are in a state of denial about the fresh outbreak of bird flu in the state, rather like the Anisur Rahaman, the state's animal husbandry minister, and Suraj Kanta Mishra, the health minister.

Poultry owners are taking the reported outbreak with a pinch of salt, more so as the sale of eggs and chickens remained largely unaffected a day after bird flu was confirmed as having re-emerged in Murshidabad.

"There has been no significant fall in poultry trade since. However, in the coming few days it may get affected," said Madan Mohan Maity, zonal chairman of National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC).

"While there is no denial of the report sent by the laboratory in Bhopal, one must know the fact that bird flu virus cannot survive at the present temperature in West Bengal," claimed Maity.

The average weekly consumption of chickens in West Bengal was 10 lakh kg and the daily consumption of eggs was close to 1.5 crore, he said.

Kajal Dutta, president of Kolkata Egg Merchant Association, said, "There was no significant fall in egg trade after yesterday's news, but people are still wary to consume eggs. While it might be true that some birds might have been left out during the culling process, but at the same time, the fraction of birds affected with bird flu is negligible. There might be some vested interests groups involved in propagating panic about the spread of bird flu."

However, egg prices after reports of second bird flu outbreak came down to Rs 1.75 per egg, from Rs 2.50 per egg a few days ago, he said.

The claimed culling of over 3.4 million birds, followed by a blanket ban on the movement of poultry across the state, could not avert another bird flu outbreak in West Bengal.

Rahaman, animal resource development minister of West Bengal, said he was hopeful that culling of another 50,000 birds would contain further spread of the disease.

Speaking to Business Standard, the minister said, "About 90 per cent of West Bengal is bird flu-free. The bird flu virus has been found only in two villages of Murshidabad. It might be due to the fact that some of the birds might have been left out during the last culling process. Out target is to cull another 50,000 birds."

Rahaman ruled out the possibility of any ban on poultry trade expect in the notified areas.

While admitting smuggled poultry from Bangladesh could be one of the reasons of bird flu in West Bengal, the minister said, "It is up to the Central government to seal the borders. The state has requested the Centre to take corrective measures in this regard."