Village near Navapur ignorant of Bird Flu

Maharashtra: Just a stone's throw from Navapur, a village is yet to know of the dreaded Bird Flu.

The people of Neercot village continue to feed their fowl and life goes on as usual.

The authorities have not visited the village even once even though it is just six kilometers from Navapur in Maharashtra, where Bird Flu was first reported.

What is more shocking is that this village of about 40 families is completely ignorant about the disease.

Most villagers say that they have never heard of it.

The village, it seems, has been sidestepped by the authorities. No official has visited this village. No safety measures have been taken. The villagers still feed their domestic fowl.

For these people Bird Flu is something new. And for the under staffed administration the new challenge is how to educate these people.

In Gujarat too there is a village called Navi Vasad that is completely being ignored by the authorities.

The reason: Gujarat says it is a part of Maharashtra and Maharashtra says it's in Gujarat.

Navi Vasad is a small border village with about 60 families.

The primary occupation here is poultry farming. Despite that, there are no officials visiting to help cull the chicken.

And that's the reason local poultry farm owners are doing it on their own, without any help or instructions.

However, though they are killing and burying birds, the problems start with dogs digging out the carcass of the dead birds.

The culling of chicken has also left a strong stench in the village and locals fear an epidemic.

But with both the states ignoring this tiny village, it may be a while before somebody takes notice.