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Amid avian flu scare, West Bengal imposes strict protocols

IANS March 18, 2025 108 views

West Bengal has taken decisive action against potential avian flu spread by blocking chicken imports from Jharkhand. The state government has established strict border checking mechanisms and deployed district-level monitoring teams to prevent virus transmission. Poultry firms are being required to follow rigorous bio-security protocols with regular surprise inspections. Awareness campaigns are simultaneously being conducted to educate the public about the potential risks, especially highlighting children's vulnerability to the H5N1 virus.

"All efforts are made so that chicken from Jharkhand cannot reach a single district in West Bengal at any cost" - Animal Husbandry Department Official
Kolkata, March 18: Amid the detection of the avian flu (H5N1) virus in neighbouring Jharkhand, the Mamata government has imposed strict protocols in West Bengal for the time being.

Key Points

1

West Bengal imposes total ban on Jharkhand chicken imports

2

Special border checking zones established

3

Poultry firms mandated to follow bio-security protocols

4

District monitoring teams deployed for surveillance

As the first step, there is a total ban on chicken imports from Jharkhand to West Bengal.

"To strictly enforce that ban, special checking at the West Bengal- Jharkhand borders is being conducted. All efforts are made so that chicken from Jharkhand cannot reach a single district in West Bengal at any cost till the crisis is over," said an official from the state Animal Husbandry Department.

However, he added, there is no reason to panic in West Bengal.

At the same time, he added special monitoring is being conducted in pockets adjacent to the West Bengal- Bangladesh borders. District-level monitoring teams have been set up in those areas to keep a close watch over the situation.

At the same time, the district-level monitoring teams are also sending regular reports about their findings to the higher authorities.

At the same time, the state Animal Husbandry Department official said, the poultry firms have been asked to strictly abide by the bio-security protocol at their respective units.

Regular and surprise checks are also being conducted at the poultry firms to check whether such protocols are being followed strictly, the official added.

The monitoring process started after identifying epicentres, where the protocols are imposed strictly.

At the same time, awareness campaigns in the districts were also being conducted to make people aware of the avian flu.

Recent findings suggest that children are more prone to get infected with the virus.

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