Peshawar News

Swabi free of bird flu, say officials Monday, July 21, 2008 Our correspondent SWABI: Swabi district is free of bird flu and a report in this regard has been sent to the authorities concerned, the high-ups of Livestock and Dairy Development Department said while talking to ‘The News’ here. When contacted by phone, District Livestock Officer (DLO) Dr Miraj Muhammad said he had sent a letter to the officials after his field visits and confirmation from different sources. “We declared the district free of the bird flu,” he added. However, he said he could not make an official announcement because all the records were in possession of Dr Ibrahim, his predecessor, and he would make an announcement in this regard. However, the sources in the livestock department said Dr Ibrahim had not taken the whole record and all the required documents about the bird flu were in the livestock files. When contacted Zabihullah Bacha, president Swabi Poultry Association (SPA), said the District Livestock Officer had told them that an official announcement would be made within next three days. He said the sitting District Livestock Officer should make the official announcement and after the transfer of Dr Ibrahim he no longer had any concern with the district livestock affairs. Meanwhile, the social circles have demanded of the officials of National Programme for Control and Prevention of Avian Influenza, district livestock department and district government to immediately clarify the situation. It may be mentioned that officials of district livestock department and World Health Organisation World Helth Organisation had culled 1,700 birds at Hamid Poultry Farm at Tordher when H5NI strain was detected in the district in June. However, SPA had rejected the District Livestock Officer and World Helth Organisation officials’ claim and accused them of hatching conspiracy to destroy the business in the area.