Bird flu in Paradip, culling from today

After detection of avian influenza in three dead crows in Paradip, Jagatsinghpur district administration has sounded alert in the affected areas.

PARADIP: After detection of avian influenza in three dead crows in Paradip, Jagatsinghpur district administration has sounded alert in the affected areas. The officials have been directed to undertake preventive measures against spread of the infection to other parts, while culling of the poultry birds will be started from Sunday.

According to sources, Animal Disease Research Institute (ADRI) Fulnakhara, Cuttack detected H5N1 in the three cows which were found dead in Badapadia and Sandhkuda of Paradip town last week. On receiving the report, Collector Sachidananda Sahoo on Saturday held a meeting with officials of Animal Husbandry, Revenue and Health departments, block offices and police department at the collectorate to take stock of the situation and discuss measures to prevent spread of the infection.

ADM, Paradip Biswanath Biswal and Chief District Veterinary Officer Ramesh Behera were also present in the meeting. The Collector said six rapid response teams have been formed to take up the culling operation. The teams would be trained on the procedures and precautionary measures on Sunday and the culling would start in the afternoon.

The administration has directed the poultry farms within one km radius of the epicentre of the outbreak not to purchase or sell birds and eggs. Besides, the people living in Paradip Municipality limits and nearby villages and slums have been asked to refrain from taking meat and eggs of chickens and ducks. The Animal Husbandry department, police and revenue officials have been told to enforce the order.

Besides the poultry farms in slums of Paradip, which have stocked thousands of chickens and ducks, the local people who have such birds, have been told to abide by the order.Meanwhile, expert teams have collected samples from domestic birds in the affected areas on random basis for laboratory test.

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