No report of Bird Flu in Tripura, so far: ARDD Minister Santana Chakma
It’s official now that there is no report of Bird Flu in Tripura.
Speaking to media after recent reports of deaths of several ducks, Tripura Animal Resource and Development Department Minister Santana Chakma Saturday clarified that no reports of Bird Flu had been confirmed in Tripura so far and adequate safety measures including sample testing facilities had been put in place at entry and exit points of state as well as different districts.
Addressing the Press at her official residence, the Minister said, "Some rumours are making rounds centering some incidents related to death of domesticated ducks and poultry. There may be some confusion among masses regarding the recent bird flu outbreak in the country and people may think that it has also affected the state but there are no confirmed reports of bird flu in Tripura so far".
According to her, after April 2008 and April 2012 no reports of bird flu had been reported in Tripura unlike states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Haryana,Gujarat and several other states.
She said, on December 28, last some deaths of domesticated ducks had been reported at Sepahijala district's Bishalgarh. Soon the department took prompt actions and arranged sample testing facilities at the entry and exit points of each district so that poultry and goats could be transported after testing, she added.
"Similar testing facilities have been set up in Churaibari entry point from Assam and Indo-Bangla borders so that each and every element of doubt can be wiped out", she said adding that there were no harm if someone likes to have chicken and eggs after having it boiled for a considerable amount of time.
She said, the recent deaths of chicks and ducks are due to red dropping and some germ caused ailments. "Each and every official had been strictly advised to carry out the vaccination process properly and submit their reports. Sometimes, some vaccine vials got expired while it reached Tripura and thus the vaccination got hampered. Strict instructions had been given so that such incidents did not reoccur in the state for the welfare of all", said the ARDD Minister.