Bhubaneswar: In view of the recent bird flu outbreak in Odisha, a Central team is scheduled to visit the state on the 4th and 5th of September to assess the situation. This was revealed during a high-level review meeting conducted via video conference on Monday.
According to an official press release, the meeting was attended by Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, Alaka Upadhyay, and senior officials from various departments, including Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Health & Family Welfare, and Fisheries & Animal Resources Development, as well as representatives from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and district collectors from Puri, Kendrapada, and Khordha.
The outbreak of Avian Influenza has been confirmed at four locations in Puri district: Pipili, Satyabadi, Nimapada, and Delanga blocks. Control and containment measures, in line with the Government of India’s Action Plan, are underway. Operations in Pipili and Satyabadi have been completed, while efforts continue in Delanga and Nimapada.
A total of 51 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are involved in the culling, disposal of birds, and sanitation efforts within the infected zones. So far, 35,329 birds, 84 eggs, and 15,380 kg of poultry feed have been destroyed. The state has compensated affected farmers with Rs 10,94,572 for the loss of birds, eggs, and feed.
Chief Secretary Ahuja has directed the intensification of public awareness campaigns and clinical surveillance in nearby areas, along with measures to prevent the entry of poultry and related products into the affected zones. A sampling plan is also being developed for the collection of serum samples, which will be sent to designated laboratories for ongoing surveillance. Additionally, burial sites are to be secured, mapped, and uploaded to an official portal.
The Secretary of DAHD, Alaka Upadhyay, assured the state of full support from the central government and emphasized the importance of registering and mapping all commercial poultry farms. The Government of India commended the Odisha government for the swift disbursement of compensation to poultry farmers.
