Months on, bird flu curbs still in place

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 10

Even after getting declared bird flu infection-free area six months ago, the government has failed to lift restrictions from a large area near Rajpura imposed under the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009.

After the death of several ducks in a steel factory at Damanheri village near Rajpura in October 2016, it was found that the ducks were infected with bird flu. The government had declared 10-km radius of the area as a “controlled area”.

However, according to officials of the state’s Animal Husbandry Department, after a series of tests, when infection was not found in the controlled area, in April this year the state conveyed it to the Central government that the disease is no longer prevalent in the area.

Following that the Centre allowed the state government to declare the area “infection-free”, but the state Animal Husbandry Department failed to lift the restrictions even after six months.

When contacted, Dr Paramjit Singh Saini, Deputy Director (Poultry), Animal Husbandry Department, confirmed that they had yet to lift the restrictions. “We have written to secretary of the department and will de-notify the area soon,” he said.