KOLKATA: After bird flu, a mysterious disease has hit the fish population in large parts of South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. A few hundred dead fish were seen floating in ponds in Nepalgunj, Julpia, Baruipur, Bhangore, Bankeswar and other areas of the district. Popular varieties like 'rohu', 'katla', 'mrigel' and 'magur' are among the worst affected.Chief medical officer of South 24 Parganas, Sacchidananda Sarkar, said an alert has been sounded and steps are being taken to find out the nature of the disease. Experts said the bird flu virus does not affect fish. Fishermen, however, said it was posing a grave threat to their livelihood.
Adhir Makhal, 75, engaged in pisciculture for decades, said that he had suffered huge loses due to the unknown disease which left hundreds of fish in his two-bigha pond dead.
"I had invested Rs 60,000 with the hope that I would earn at least Rs 1 lakh. But, now it appears that I have lost everything," Makhal said.
He may be mistaken about bird flu not affecting fish. It was long ago discovered in fresh water fish preyed on by water birds. I certainly hope that bird flu doesn't force the world to become vegetarian.