Virus Alert

Jamshedpur, Jan. 20: The bird flu scare in neighbouring Mayurbhanj district of Odisha has put the Kolhan region on alert.

Deputy commissioners of the three districts of West Singhbhum, East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan yesterday asked block development officers, police stations and railway authorities of those blocks sharing border with Odisha to ensure that no poultry product from the affected state enters Jharkhand.

The deputy commissioners acted on a directive issued by the state animal husbandry secretary, Arun Kumar Singh, on January 13.

Speaking to The Telegraph, deputy commissioner of Seraikela-Kharsawan Rabindra Lal Agarwal said they had identified Rajnagar block as the only area in the district that shares border with Mayurbhanj. “I have asked Rajnagar BDO and the officer in charge of the police station concerned to set up temporary check points to ensure that no poultry product from Odisha crosses over to Jharkhand. The BDO has been asked to keep me posted daily,” he said.

On the other hand, East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Himani Pande already issued a directive to railway police, sub-divisional officers (SDOs) of Ghatshila and Dhalbhum, additional district magistrate (law and order) and police station officers of Hata and Baharagora yesterday.

“The BDOs and SDOs have been told to submit reports on confiscated poultry, if any, on a daily basis. Similar instruction has been issued to Railway Protection Force,” said Vijay Kumar Singh, ADM, law and order, East Singhbhum.

Acting on the directive of West Singhbhum deputy commissioner K. Srinivasan, officials erected check posts at Kiriburu, Jeraikela, Jaintgarh, Hatgamharia and Majhgaon as these areas share border with Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts of Odisha. Check points will also come up at Kumardungi (Majhgaon) and Kokcho along Sundergarh.

Veterinary officials will man the posts. They will not only identify poultry products, but also find out whether they are infected and send them to veterinary health and production institute in Kanke (Ranchi).

The avian influenza scare had been restricted to Khurda district of Odisha, but reports of deaths due to bird flu came from Betnoti in Mayurbhanj district on Wednesday.