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No taint of H5N1 virus in Kollam

State pushes for duck research unit, prefers it in Kuttanad

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The samples sent from various parts of Kollam to Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL) Bangalore rule out bird flu have been found to be negative.

The district administration said that four samples from various parts of the district were sent to RDDL Bangalore and a specimen of these was also sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal.

But the results at these laboratories proved that the death of about 500 poultry including birds in the district was not due to H5N1 virus.

The samples of Kuriakose Mathew, a veterinary surgeon involved in culling operations who had developed fever, were also found to be negative at the National Virology Institute, Manipal.

He was under observation at Kottayam district hospital. “The fever was not associated with bird flu”, Dr George S Palamattam, hospital superintendent told DC.

In Assembly, Animal Husbandry Minister K P Mohanan said the government would urge Centre to set up National Duck Research Unit Duck at Alappuzha preferably in Kuttanad, to train the duck farmers. The minister was making a statement on the issue under rule 300.

Mr Mohanan said that panchayats had been allowed to spend up to Rs 1 lakh from their own fund for bird flu control and containment activities.

He said Rs 84.29 lakh rupees had been disbursed as compensation to farmers while a total of 2.06 lakh birds had been culled in the affected areas.

In Thrissur, officials of animal husbandry department of Kerala and Tamil Nadu carried out sterilization and fogging for vehicles carrying poultry at Nadupani check post in Palakkad.

Dr T R Girija, Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Palakkad, said surveillance had been stepped up in Nadupani check post as the district was a major transit point for bulk of poultry trade.

As a precautionary measure the Palakkad district administration has banned transportation of poultry and poultry-related feed from and to the neighbouring state.

Tamil Nadu animal husbandry department has also sounded a alert along the interstate border. “We are establishing checkpoints where such products will be tested.

Disinfectants will be used before sending such poultry products back,” a Coimbatore based Tamil Nadu health official said.

( Source : dc correspondent )
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