Questionable bird flu outbreak
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 24 2015 -

In normal circumstances the outbreak of bird flu should have been a matter of serious concern.

But the recent news has not created even a froth so far except among some government officials.

Besides serious doubts had been raised by the public spirited TMC MLA and president Shyamkumar.

As the anti-bird flu is a multi-million Rupee campaign some questions need be answered satisfactorily before the tax payers’ money is splurged.

The entire issue precariously and suspiciously hinges on a single reported test result.

People of the state know that several persons were given death warrant as doctors based on test results informed them that they were at the terminal stage of cancer and other killer diseases.

But when they took second tests in Mumbai and other places it was found that they were as healthy and robust as thoroughbred.

The tax payers in general and the farmers and meat sellers dealing in chicken in particular are entitled to answers to some incisive questions.

How is it that the local ICAR had sent the fluid samples of the dead chicken to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal without the knowledge and approval of the state government?

Shyamkumar did not have anything good to say about the local ICAR and in public interest the officials should make their positions clear.

Why did the obliging director of the Bhopal institute ring up the veterinary director here despite the fact that he was dealing with the ICAR only.

The government officials declared radii of 1 km and 10 km for infected and surveillance zone respectively.

People would like to know how this yardstick is decided since it is possible that chicken outside the radii may be infected. The innuendo of Shyamkumar about the integrity and corruptibility of some ICAR officials should not simply be wished away.

Because of these unanswered questions there are not much public response, enthusiasm.

Rather there is a silent revolt and non-cooperation.

After taking all these factors into consideration the government should collect fluid samples randomly for another testing under the supervision of the veterinary department.

This may help save millions of rupees of tax payers'; money from going down the drain and leaving the chicken traders holding the empty sacks.