Sikkim sends assessment team to bird flu area

Alarmed by the outbreak of bird flu in two districts of neighboring West Bengal, the Sikkim government has rushed a team of experts there to assess the impact of the disease.

Led by the animal husbandry and veterinary services department joint director, Kesang Bhutia, the team left for Birbhum and South Dinajpur districts in West Bengal on Wednesday eveningto take stock of the outbreak and its potential impact on the poultry industry, official sources said today.

The state government would take appropriate measures for preventing the spread of bird flu if at all the epidemic spreads beyond the two districts of West Bengal and to review the supply of poultry products from the state, the sources said.