Thursday, January 31, 2008

Uttar Pradesh: Bird Flu Fears Spark Culling

 

# 1582

 

 

 

Map indicating the location of Uttar Pradesh

 

 

Uttar Pradesh is the fifth largest, and most populous state in India, with more than 186 million inhabitants.  If it were a sovereign country, its population would place it in 5th place, just after Indonesia, and just ahead of Brazil in most populous nations.  

 

1/6th of all Indians live in Uttar Pradesh.

 

Located in the Northern part of India, Uttar Pradesh is separated from West Bengal by the States of Bihar and Jharkhand. 

 

 

 

 

Uttar Pradesh buries 2000 chickens brought from bird flu-hit West Bengal

From our ANI Correspondent

Shahjahanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Jan 31: Authorities in Uttar Pradesh buried over 2000 chicken here following reports that the poultry were brought from bird flu-affected West Bengal.

 

 

Around 5000 chickens were brought by poultry farm owners in Shahjahanpur. Out of these 1,500 died under mysterious circumstances.

 


"I had bought 1500 chicken for Rs 15,000. A veterinarian said that the chicks are infected," said Chote Singh Yadav, a poultry farm owner.


The authorities have engaged people to cull the birds and stop any further smuggling of infected birds.

 

"Medicines and disinfectants have also been sprayed and sprinkled," said Gudu, a worker appointed by the administration to bury the chickens.

 

In the wake of bird flu outbreak, the authorities in West Bengal have ordered culling of chickens to contain the spread of the disease. Due to this small farmers are incurring huge losses, despite the compensation being provided to them.


 

Many claim that the compensation given to them is not adequate.

 

The 5000-crore organised poultry industry in West Bengal has been badly-hit. Since January 15, when the epidemic was officially declared, chicken sales and exports have dipped to an all-time low.

 

The WHO has called the outbreak the most serious in India.