250 dogs die in West Bengal's Bankura in 3 days, viral disease suspect

KOLKATA: More than 250 stray dogs — most of them puppies — were found dead in the past three days in Bishnupur, Bankura. Vets said the deaths were possibly triggered by the canine parvovirus, which causes the highly contagious parvo disease that spreads from dog to dog by direct or indirect contact with their faeces.
The virus that generally affects dogs during this time of the year has also led to multiple deaths across the state, including in Kolkata, but nowhere else has the numbers been so alarming.
According to data provided by Bishnupur Municipality, 62 dogs died on Wednesday, 96 on Thursday and till late on Friday, more than 100 were reported dead. Arrangements are being made to bury the carcasses at Katadhar dumping ground on the outskirts of Bishnupur town.
“We have reported the incident to the district and state health authorities. From Saturday, large-scale public announcements will be done across town to make people aware of the disease and to stem panic,” municipality chairman Dibyendu Banerjee said.
Almost all the dogs have similar symptoms of severe diarrhoea, vomiting and coughing blood, residents said.
The vets, however, assured that the disease didn’t get passed on to humans.