Bird Flu In Puri: Poultry Culling Begins In Krushnaprasad Block

Brahmagiri: Acting on the reports of the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal confirming the outbreak of bird flu in Krushnaprasad block of Puri district, the district administration on Friday began culling of poultry in Maluda village.

According to sources, a five-member team of Animal Resources Department began the culling process at a poultry farm in the village and dumped the dead birds in a pit dug on the outskirts of the village.

As informed by the secretary, Fisheries and Animal Resources Department (F&ARD), Vishal Gagan on Thursday, the officials of the Animal Disease Research Institute (ADRI) at Phulanakhara in Cuttack had collected 500 excreta samples of dead crows, hens and ducks from Sanasahi, Maluda, Alanda and Patharaganja villages of Krushnaprasad block on December 9 and 10 for test of which 20 samples were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal, where excreta samples of two crows and two hens tested positive for the avian influenza.

Chief District Veterinary Officer (CDVO) Dr Girija Patnaik had earlier said that the culling of poultry would begin in the four villages where the samples had tested positive. Besides, the culling will be extended to villages within a one-km radius of these affected villages.

Meanwhile, the poultry farmers in the affected areas have expressed resentment over the compensation announced by the government.

“We strongly oppose the decision of the district administration to provide Rs 20 per each poultry chick and Rs 50 for the adult poultry. The price of a poultry chick is Rs 50 to Rs 55 while the cost of the feed is Rs 32 per kg. Besides, we are spending medicine worth Rs 5-Rs 7 towards each chick. How can we manage to run the poultry farm if the district administration provides us with such meagre compensation? If the administration does not revise its compensation rules, we have no option than committing suicide,” said an aggrieved farmer.

The district administration has also banned procuring eggs and chicken from the block for 10 days.

This apart, it has strictly given instructions to all schools and anganwadi centres not to include eggs in the midday meals provided to the children.