Kendrapara: Close on the heels of Puri, bird flu is now spreading its tentacles in Odisha’s Kendrapara district. District authorities have sent swab samples collected from the villages in Kendrapara to the National Institute for High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal. Several samples have tested positive to H5N1 Avian Influenza virus (bird flu).
Most of the bird flu cases have been found in Balia and Ender villages in Derabish block of the district. The Fisheries and Animal Resources Department, Government of Odisha, had directed the District Collector to take up culling operations and sanitisation measures within 0-1km radius of the infected zone in those villages to control the spread of H5N1 virus.
Accordingly culling of chickens have started in the affected villages, including Nilakanthapur-Nilakanthapur, Pachisimaniapatana, Bibhutipada, Satabatia, Tilanga, and Baghala. Culling is also being undertaken in Balia, Ario, Oukhanda, Mulanapatana, Jagulaipada, Deshpur, Chasakhanda, Golarhat, Dumukahata, Narua and Satabatia.
The premises of the poultry farms have been sealed and the administration will compensate the villagers for the forced culling of poultry birds, and destruction of eggs and poultry feed. On the other hand, the shops and markets dealing with poultry products within a radius of 10km from the infected sites shall remain closed until further orders.
