BENGALURU: Bird flu has resurfaced in Karnataka, this time in Humnabad taluk of Bidar district.
But the authorities and experts are confident that adequate precautionary measures are in place to contain it from spreading to other parts of the state and are telling people not to panic.
At the Central Poultry Development Organisation at Hesaraghatta, where bird flu broke out in 2012, the authorities are taking additional precautions. “In India, culling is the best proven method to prevent the spread of the virus,” P S Mahesh, Director, CPDO, said. At present, CPDO has 15,000 chicken and 8,000 ducks.
Bio-security beefed up
“We have beefed up bio-security and we are not allowing any visitors or vehicles. The Animal Husbandry and Health Departments are working closely,” he said.
Mahesh said people in Bengaluru can eat poultry without fear. “Even people in Bidar can do so,” he said.
Department officials have some advice for poultry farmers: do not allow visitors or vehicles that are not sanitised. This is a part of their action plan to prevent the spread of the virus.
H N Nagabhushan, General Secretary of the Karnataka Poultry Farmers’ and Breeders’ Association, told Express panic was unwarranted.
“In case of bird flu, it is advised to cook meat at 60 degrees Celsius. But normally, we cook at 120 degrees Celsius, so there is no cause for worry,” he said.
Nagabhushan said they are getting queries from farmers and breeders on bird flu. “We have told them to restrict outside vehicular movement to poultry farms. We have asked them to spray disinfectants on people and vehicles, in and around Humnabad in Bidar district. Poultry sales within a 3-km radius of Humnabad have been stopped and poultry within a 1-km radius are being culled,” he said.
In Bengaluru, BBMP Joint Director (Animal Husbandry) Maheshwar Gowda also said it was safe to consume poultry products, including eggs. “It is just fear going around. There is, however, no need to panic,” he said.