Date : 15 Feb,2008The Indian Open Badminton Tournament which is expected to take place in April, 2008 in Hyderabad has come under threat due to the recent outburst of Bird Flu in China. In an official letter sent by the International Badminton Federation to the Badminton Association of India, the former has proposed to call off India's first grand prix badminton competition, owing to the unavailability of shuttlecocks in the country.
India has discontinued the import of finest quality goose feathers from China due to the recent outbreak of H5N1 virus in that country. However, Shri V.K Verma, the president of Badminton Association of India has sent official letters to the Sports Authority of India, the Ministry of Health and Agriculture and the Department of Animal Husbandry requesting to the concerned authorities to do away with the ban on import of feathers.
According to Shri V. K. Verma, the Yonex shuttlecocks of Chinese origin are used in all the major international tournaments all over the world, including world championships that took place in England, Germany and Switzerland. The Indian Open was cancelled on earlier occasions in 2007 due to the bomb blast in Hyderabad.
The cancellation of the Badminton tournament would be a major loss of face for India in the world of sports. Moreover, the fate of the three leading Indian players, Chetan Anand, Saina Nehwal and Anup Sridhar depends on the Indian Open Badminton Tournament. The Indian Open is the final chance for the leading badminton players across the globe to qualify for the Olympic Games that is scheduled to be held in Beijing.
Date : 13 Feb,2008
The West Bengal State Government dissolved the ban imposed on the sale and purchase of chickens and poultry products from 13th of February onwards. However, the ban continues to be effective in the worst affected districts of Murshidabad and Birbhum till indefinite time period.
The State Health Department in consultation with the State Government of West Bengal has decided to lift the ban considering that there were no reported cases of Avian Flu or human bird flu. According to Animal Resources Development Minister, Shri Anisur Rahaman poultry owners of the affected areas however cannot start their business before three months time period for safety reasons.
The decision to restart the sale of chickens has brought smiles on the faces of the members of the West Bengal Poultry Welfare Association as well as on the food lovers of the state.
The medical experts and the members of the rapid-response teams will continue with their surveillance in the affected areas of West Bengal to avoid any unwanted cases of Bird Flu influenza. To strengthen up vigilance in the borders of West Bengal, the Police Department of the state has decided to set up camps to prevent smuggling of uncertified chickens and poultry products.
The State Government has asked the private banks to lend soft loans to the affected poultry owners to improve their financial condition. The Central Government in close collaboration with the State Government has decided to distribute funds to the distressed businessmen to help them overcome the financial crisis.
Date : 8 Feb,2008
After West Bengal, the life threatening Bird Flu is likely to spread its deadly tentacles in other parts of the Indian sub-continent. The neighboring states of Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand and Orissa have become vigilant over the sudden threat of H5N1 virus.
The health department of Assam has already started culling operations in some of the adjacent districts of West Bengal. The Assam Government has ordered completion of culling procedure within a period of seven to ten days. An estimated 85,000 birds are expected to be culled in the on-going culling operation by the 40 rapid-response teams.
According to the directions issued by the Central Government on the 1st of February, all birds up to a radius of 5 kilometer in the adjacent regions of Bengal are to be culled for safety measures. The farmers of Orissa, however, have raised question over culling of healthy birds.
As a sign of protest, the All Orissa Layers Farmers Association, All Orissa Poultry Farmers Association and All Orissa Broiler and Integrator Association have appealed to the Cuttack High Court to stop culling of healthy birds.
The West Bengal Government has announced on Sunday that the dreadful phase of Bird Flu was finally over in the state. However, as precautionary measure the Health department has ordered ban on the sale of chickens and poultry products till the 12th of February. The decision to lift the ban will be taken by the State Government after a thorough review of the avian flu influenza by the team of medical experts.
The cost of mutton has sky rocketed in West Bengal to counter the ban on the sale of chicken and eggs. The West Bengal Government and the Central Government have successfully dealt with Bird Flu influenza of the state by adhering to its strict culling procedures and regular training sessions.
Date : 5 Feb,2008
The Central Government has offered a cash of Rs. 5 crore as compensation package to the affected poultry owners of the state. The Centre had already paid a sum of Rs. 3.5 crore to the West Bengal Government for successfully tackling the Avian Flu influenza threat.
According to State Health officials, the distressed districts should be free of poultry and poultry products for a continuous period of 90 days. The Animal Husbandry Secretary, Shri Pradip Kumar has stated that there have been no reports of any fresh case of Bird Flu in any other districts of West Bengal. However, the State Health Department has to be extra vigilant to avoid any further case of avian influenza.
Rapid-response team members have already started surveying each house of the affected villages to find out hidden chickens. The Health Department has strictly announced that no poultry farm should be set up in the affected areas till three months of the culling operation. However, chickens and poultry products cooked at a temperature of 70º C and above can be safely consumed.
Bird Flu Scare in Neighboring States of West Bengal
The neighboring states of Assam, Bihar, Orissa and Jharkhand have become very cautious to prevent outburst of the life threatening H5N1 virus. Culling operations have already started in two districts of Assam.
According to the Central Health Department, about 2.1 million chickens should be culled in the adjoining states of Assam, Orissa, Bihar, and Jharkhand to ensure a 5 kilometer radius of H5N1 virus free region in the adjacent districts of West Bengal.
Date : 4 Feb,2008
In a major step to prevent further spread of Avian Flu influenza among human population, the District Administration of Malda has ordered issue of arrest warrants to the members of rapid-response team, in case they do not adhere to the quarantine procedures.
The members of the team have been administered with Tamiflu drugs by the West Bengal Health Department. In addition, the State Health Department has ordered the members to put up at the isolation camp for further medical tests.
The Animal Resource Development Officials, in close co-operation with the district police have decided to launch search operations to find out any hidden poultry. Shri Raj Kanojia, Inspector General of Law and Order, West Bengal has issued strict orders to the police officials to extend full co-operation to the members of the rapid response teams in the culling operations of the state.
Search operations have already begun in Rampurhat area of Birbhum district of West Bengal. According to the officials of Animal Resource Development, the search operation has received favorable responses from the villagers and those poultry owners who were unwilling to hand over their chickens and ducks, willingly handed over to the officials.
The members of the Health Department and Non-Government Organizations stated that the change in attitude was brought about through regular training sessions. The Central Government has sought the details of the compensation packages promised to the poultry owners by the West Bengal Government. Once the Central Government endorses the rehabilitation packages, the State Government will start dispensing the funds to the affected poultry owners.
Bird Flu Threat in Assam
The Assam Government has sounded a red alert in the state, after the drastic spread of H5N1 virus among the poultry products of West Bengal. The State Government has ordered formation of 40 rapid-response teams to cull a targeted estimate of 85,000 birds within a period of 7 to 10 days.
Trade relations with the neighboring state of West Bengal have been banned for the time being, following the occurrence of Avian Flu influenza. As a precautionary measure, the Assam Government has already started training the poultry owners on successfully tackling the spread of Bird Flu, in case of any exigencies.
Date : 2 Feb,2008
The West Bengal Health Department has decided to quarantine the rapid-response teams of the state for a period of seven days, after some of the members reported high fever. According to the Animal Resource Development Minister, Shri Anisur Rahman, culling operations will be over by Sunday evening in the state.
According to official statistics, 27, 26,840 chickens have been killed in the culling procedure, till yesterday evening. The culling target has been raised to more than 29 lakhs by the State Health Department. About 26 members of the rapid response teams engaged in the culling operations are under strict medical supervision, out of which 18 members have been declared to be medically fit.
Bird Flu Threat in the Neighboring Districts of West Bengal
Shri Shantanu Bandhopadhyaya, the Animal Husbandry Commissioner, has suggested depopulation of poultry in the 5 kilometer radius of the neighboring states of Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa. However, before depopulating the area, the respective State Government will have to extend their consent to the proposal.
The other Indian states have already started taking necessary precautionary measures to avoid any unwanted case of Avian Flu influenza. Veterinary experts from the respective State Health Departments have started surveying poultry and poultry products. The Jammu and Kashmir State Government has sent blood and throat samples of two dead geese to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory of Bhopal for testing, the results of which are yet to be declared.
As per reports of West Bengal Government, the Bird Flu situation is under control and no further cases of bird deaths has been reported from any of the affected districts.
Date : 1 Feb,2008
Darjeeling district of West Bengal is under strict surveillance, after the district officials reported deaths of 38 chickens from Takdah village. The district officials are eagerly waiting for the test results of the blood and throat samples of the dead chickens that have been sent for testing. In the meanwhile, Shri Rajesh Pandey, the District Magistrate of Darjeeling has asked the health officials to spread awareness among the local inhabitants of the district through intensive survey and training.
According to the District Magistrate of Mushirdabad, Shri Subir Bhadra, about 5.80 lakhs birds have been killed in the ongoing culling operations in Kandi, Samserganj and Beldanga areas. West Midnapore district has almost achieved 90% of its total culling target.
Keeping in mind the large-scale outbreak of H5N1 virus, the State Animal Husbandry Minister has increased the target of culling to 27 lakhs. The Chief Minister of West Bengal told all the District Magistrates of the 19 districts to adapt precautionary measures to ensure safety of poultry and human population through organized campaigns and regular training sessions.
The District Magistrates advised the West Bengal Government to increase the compensation rate for culling chickens and ducks. At present, the Government pays an insufficient amount of Rs. 40/- per chicken and duck, and Rs. 10/- per chick to the poultry owners.
According to the rapid-response teams, culling operations will be completed by the end of this week. The State has decided not to accept any monetary aid from the US Government. However, any kind of medical and technical assistance to successfully tackle the threat of Avian Flu influenza will be welcomed by the West Bengal Government.
Date : 31 Jan,2008
In order to restrain the further spread of H5N1 virus, the Indian Government, at the suggestion of the Food and Agriculture Organization, has decided to participate in the combined surveillance operation with Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal. The combined surveillance operation will enable India to acquire suitable technical and medical knowledge to successfully handle critical situations of Avian Flu influenza.
According to official sources, it is believed that the major cause for the outbreak of Bird Flu in 13 districts of West Bengal has been due to illicit poultry trade with Bangladesh. Dr. S. K. Bandhopadhyaya, the Union Animal Husbandry Commissioner, stated that the combined surveillance operation will put a tab on illicit poultry trade, apart from enhanced commercial relations between the signatory countries.
The West Bengal Government has put a ban on the commercial transaction of poultry and poultry products. A red alert has been sounded in Kalimpong and Darjeeling municipalities of West Bengal. Culling operation will continue with full effect in the affected districts of the state with the new 15 rapid-response teams organized by the Health Department for culling operation.
The District Health Department of West Bengal has stated disbursement of Rs. 640 to the affected panchayat areas for organizing awareness camps and training sessions for the local inhabitants of the distressed districts.
For more information contact : solutions@mapsofindia.com
Disclaimer : All efforts have been made to make this image accurate. However Compare Infobase Limited. and its directors do not own any responsibility for the correctness or authenticity of the same.
For the first time ever - 
