DHENKANAL: The bird flu panic has made its way to the mid-day meal scheme too. Hundreds of students of various primary schools in Dhenkanal district have refused to take eggs in their noon meal.As many as 1,700 schools with 1.10 lakh children come under the Sarva Sikshya Abhiyan in eight blocks of the district. Since a week, teachers have stopped giving eggs under the MDM following the students’ and their parents’ fear of contracting the flu. The block resource coordinators (BRCs) too have asked the schools to stop distribution of eggs. Some schools which still continue giving eggs will stop it soon, considering the panic-like situation across the State.Official sources said veterinary department has ordered stopping hatching of eggs in SJSY hatchery, which functions from the veterinary hospital premises.According to Chief District Veterinary Officer Dr Bijay Prusty, the department has alerted all farmhouses and directed them to maintain bio-security and veterinary officials are making on-the-spot visits. The department has opened a control room and eight rapid action force teams besides an arrangement for stocking Ranikhet Disease (RD) vaccine.Veterinary officials admitted that as many as 50 crows, including pigeons, have died at different places. Deaths of crows and pigeons have been reported from Kankadahada.Meanwhile, nearly 163 broilers have deserted firms after selling birds at cheaper prices. However, SSA District Project Coordinator S Sahoo said there was no Government instruction against use of eggs in the MDM. Collector Bishnu Prasad Panda said meetings are on with veterinary officials and they have been asked to take adequate measures.
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