State to cull 35k birds in Keranga
BHUBANESWAR: Around 35,000 poultry birds would soon be culled in Keranga area of Khurda district. The Odisha government decided this on Wednesday evening following confirmation of existence of bird flu virus in the area three days ago.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik gave his nod in favour of culling of hens and ducks in 19 villages within three km radius of the epicentre of the dreaded disease basing upon an advisory from the Centre, official sources said. Though the government had resorted to culling in 2005, 2006 and 2008 in different parts of the state, bird flu was detected in the state for the first time in Keranga.
"We have ordered the Khurda district administration to begin culling with immediate effect," secretary, fisheries and animal resources development, Satyabrata Sahu said. "We have estimated that around 35,000 birds would be eliminated," he told TOI. He said rapid response teams have been formed and surveillance increased to overcome the challenges posed by bird flu.
Official sources said domesticated fowls as well as those living in a big poultry farm in Keranga would be killed. The government would compensate the bird owners at the following rates: Rs 70 for each layer bird (big size) and Rs 30 for each layer bird (small); Rs 60 for each broiler bird (big) and Rs 30 for each broiler bird (small); Rs 75 for each duck (big) and Rs 35 for duck (small); Rs two each for an egg and Rs six for each kg for bird feed.
The government also stopped movement of poultry products into Keranga, thus depriving schoolchildren of eggs under the Midday Meal Scheme there. Official sources said around 300 birds were reported dead in Keranga, spreading panic in the area. While the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory of Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bhopal, confirmed a sample each of hen and duck with H5N1 virus which causes bird flu or avian influenza on Sunday, the laboratory confirmed the virus in a crow sample on Wednesday, official sources added, adding, 562 samples of crows and poultry birds from across the state have been sent to Bhopal for tests.
With crows in hundreds being found dead in different parts of Odisha, including Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts, experts are at a loss on how to cope with the situation. Crows being wild birds can neither be vaccinated nor killed, but are capable of spreading the disease, an expert pointed out.
Agitated and panicked over the detection of bird flu, some people in Keranga damaged a part of a big farm housing around 20,000 poultry birds and also took away some fowls, police said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/State-to-cull-35k-birds-in-Keranga/articleshow/11452512.cms
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