Bhubaneswar: In the wake of a confirmed outbreak of bird flu, authorities in Khordha district have launched a large-scale culling operation in the Jankia area to prevent further spread of the virus. The action follows test reports from a veterinary laboratory in Bhopal, which confirmed the presence of avian influenza in blood samples collected from local poultry farms.
The outbreak was suspected after an unusual number of chicken deaths were reported across several farms in and around Jankia. Acting swiftly, the district administration dispatched samples for laboratory testing. Once the positive results arrived, over 50 veterinarians and officials were deployed to the affected area to undertake emergency containment measures.
As part of the operation, 4,507 chickens were culled at a poultry farm in the Mundamba locality. In addition, 1,600 kilograms of poultry feed was destroyed to eliminate any further risk of infection. Both the carcasses and the contaminated feed were disposed of in a deep burial pit following established safety protocols.
Khordha District Chief Veterinarian Rabinarayan Behera confirmed the outbreak and said the culling was part of a standard biosecurity response aimed at curbing the spread of the highly contagious virus. He also noted that sanitisation efforts would continue in the coming days to protect nearby farms and ensure public health safety.
Authorities have urged poultry farm owners in the region to remain vigilant and report any unusual bird deaths immediately. Meanwhile, residents have been advised to avoid direct contact with poultry in the affected zones until the situation is fully under control.
