Girl's death in bird flu-hit area reignites fear

Behrampore (WB): Although culling of chickens has officially been declared complete two weeks after bird flu resurfaced in several blocks of Birbhum district, a minor girl's death after eating chicken has given a scare.

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An eight-year-old girl died on Saturday and four others of her family fell ill after consuming chicken at Rampurhat block which was the worst affected in the first wave of bird flu attack in January.

Officials of the district health department and animal resource development, however, denied that the girl's death had anything to do with bird flu, claiming that she died of food poisoning.

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The CMOH, Birbhum, S K Bhowmik, said on Monday that they were suffering from dysentery and vomited frequently, adding "Still, they have been kept under vigil."

He explained that in a bird flu attack a patient usually suffered from fever and respiratory problem both of which were non-existent in her case.

The girl, Sama Mehta, and her our family members were admitted to Rampurhat hospital.

While Sama died Saturday evening, the three others were release today, P K Mondal, the SDO, Ranmpurhat, said.

Mondal said that the illness of the Menta family indicated that chickens were being sold freely in the affected blocks despite a ban imposed by the government.

The block officials have been ordered to impose the ban on strictly, he said.

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