Bihar govt bans entry of chicken

PATNA: In the wake of high alert sounded by the Centre following the Bird Flu outbreak in West Bengal and Assam, the Bihar government has imposed a blanket ban on entry of chicken and other poultry products from the two states.

"The adjoining districts of Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria and Katihar have been sealed and the district authorities directed not to allow a single bird to enter the state," Animal Husbandry minister Ram Narayan Mandal said on Sunday.

Animal husbandry department officers of districts bordering the two states have been directed to cull chicken if a single bird flu case comes to their knowledge, he said.

The department has provided personal protective equipment for taking up culling operation to the district magistrate of
Purnia for distribution among the other adjoining districts bordering West Bengal, he said.

While taking preventive measures in the four eastern districts, the state government has also initiated preventive measures in other parts of the state to check the spread of avian flu and asked people to take precautionary measures while consuming chicken.

The state government is also keeping a close watch on poultry products entering Bihar from Uttar Pradesh borders.

There is, however, no reason for panic as no case has been reported so far in the state, officials said.