Bhubaneswar: A three-member Central team visited poultry farms in Nimapara block of Puri district on Wednesday to assess the situation following an outbreak of avian influenza in Odisha.
The team, comprising experts from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD)—Dr Abhijit Mitra, Dr Adhiraj Mishra, and Ramasish Hazare—visited farms in Daspurusottampur, Balipada, and Bakugaon.
During their visit, the experts spoke with farm owners, local residents, and Rapid Response Teams about the recent chicken deaths and the symptoms observed prior to the fatalities. The veterinary specialists advised isolating affected chickens to prevent further spread of the disease.
Dr Mitra informed media that while bird flu primarily affects chickens, wild birds, and cows, there have been no reported cases of human infection in the region so far.
Earlier, a high-level meeting between Central and state government officials confirmed the presence of bird flu in four epicenters within Puri district: Pipili, Satyabadi, Nimapara, and Delanga blocks. Over 35,000 birds have been culled in these areas to date.
The ongoing control and containment operations, guided by the Central government’s action plan, have been completed in Pipili and Satyabadi, with efforts continuing in Delanga and Nimapara. A total of 51 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed for culling, disposal of infected birds, and sanitation within the affected zones.
