Bhubaneswar: After Puri, bird flu has now spread to Khurda district in Odisha. Outbreak of avian influenza has been confirmed in Mundamba village of the district after several poultry birds died at a private farm in the area under mysterious conditions over the last few days.
Veterinary officials collected samples from the dead birds and sent them to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal. Lab test reports from Bhopal have confirmed that the samples tested positive for the bird flu virus. Following the confirmation, the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department has taken swift containment action. Eleven rapid response teams have been deployed to the affected area, and a one-kilometer radius around the epicenter has been declared a surveillance zone.
As a precautionary measure, more than 4,500 chickens were culled at Mundamba village. The district administration has started culling poultry birds in the affected and surrounding areas to prevent further spread of the disease.
This apart, samples were also collected from farms within a 10 km radius of the affected area and sent to Bhopal for testing.
The administration has been vigilant and taken prompt action to contain the spread of the disease and ensure that all necessary measures are taken to prevent further outbreaks.
Earlier, bird flu had been detected in Delang area of Puri district, prompting the administration to take swift action. Over 6,000 chickens were culled under the supervision of senior officials at Delang to prevent it from further spreading.