Bhubaneswar: Around 5,000 chickens in a poultry farm were called by special Rapid Response Team (RRT) after bird flu conformation in Pili area of Puri district.
The culling operation started at the epicenter of the outbreak, Abalpur near Pipili in the Puri district. As many as 13 RRTs from different districts have been deputed at the village for the culling exercise, said Additional Director of Animal Disease Control Dr Jagannath Nanda.
“We culled around 1000 birds yesterday and 4,749 today in Abalpur. Chickens in other farms in Abalpur, Baligaan, Nuagadi and other adjacent villages will be culled. We have targeted to cull around 20,000 chickens in the area,” Nanda added.
After culling, all the chickens were buried with the feeders as per protocols, he informed.
“We have also made people aware of the highly contagious disease and advised to stay away from consuming chickens presently,” Nanda said.
A farmer in Abalpur said that all his chickens were culled and feeder were disposed properly. The farm was also sanitized after the culling exercise, he said, adding that the government assured them to provide compensation.
The avian flu was confirmed after sample sent to National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal tested positive for the influenza.
Later, local BDO initiated measures to contain the outbreak.
The H5N1 strain of the bird flu is considered highly pathogenic and can also be transmitted to animals such as pigs, horses, large cats, dogs, and occasionally humans.
