Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Odisha alerts Chilika & Bhitarkanika Park against bird flu

Jan 10, 2012
With bird flu scare gripping Khurda district, Odisha Government on Tuesday asked Chilika and Bhitarkanika National Park authorities to augment surveillance against the avian influenza, official sources said.

The wildlife officials of Chilika Lake have been specially asked to remain alert as the water body was located close to Keranga, the place from where the state's first bird flu virus (H5N1) had been detected, they said.

This apart, Chilika lagoon had this time attracted over 8.83 lakh of birds, mostly migratory ones. Similarly, at least 52,242 birds have also assembled at Bhitarkanika National Park sanctuary in Kendrapara district.

Meanwhile, a bird flu expert from neighbouring West Bengal visited Keranga area and held discussion with Khurda district officials on modalities of tackling the situation.

"We have prohibited movement of poultry within 10 km radius of Keranga from where two fowls tested positive to the H5N1 virus," Khurda District Collector Roopa Mishra told reporters, adding all steps were being taken to arrest spread of the avian influenza.

The state government has, meanwhile, trained about 200 officials on how to deal with the situation. At least four squads had been formed comprising live stock inspectors and other veterinary department officials, said Fisheries and Animal Development department Secretary Satyabrata Sahu.

Sahu, however, said that the government had no plan now to go for culling of poultry. "We require specific direction from the Centre before taking any decision regarding culling of birds," he said. Some more samples of dead fowls were sent to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL), Bhopal after officials suspected bird flu in them, an official said.

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