A recent report has disclosed that the bird flu has gripped Bhopal’s Malda district into its jaws.

The report confirmed that the blood samples sent to the laboratory were infected with the highly pathogenic bird flu virus.

In spite of efforts of the animal resource development (ARD) to stem the root, poultry deaths continue unabated in Malda district

Last night around 132 chickens comprising chicks died in a state farm at English Bazaar, which takes the chicken death toll to 551 since Wednesday, ARD officials said.

Mr. NK Shit, deputy director, animal resource development in Malda said, “We could not check chicken deaths. We are waiting for the investigation report.”

As the chickens are in poor health, the ARD functionaries have stopped the sale of birds from the farm.

Though ARD officials primarily claimed that fowl cholera was the main cause of chicken deaths and found dross among some chickens, they are in no position to ascertain the cause of the disease.

The office bearer for ARD in Malda zilla parishad, Mr. Soumitra Roy today informed the matter to ARD minister Mr Anisur Rahman and requested him to verify the survey reports.

“No body informed the minister about the serious situation at the Malda farm. Mr Rahman was surprised to hear it from me,” Mr Roy said.

Mr. C R Das, the Malda district magistrate said, “Let us see the laboratory test report. We must take necessary steps based on the lab report of the dead birds. There is no confirmation of Bird Flu here.”

In the meantime, fresh chicken deaths were reported from Mothabari, Kaliachak. Earlier, more than 86,000 birds were culled in Chanchal-I block after bird flu virus was found in the dead birds at Mahanandatola. However, other parts of the district remained unaffected.