Bird Flu Spreads To Odisha’s Kendrapada After Puri; Culling Operation Ordered

Kendrapada: Days after bird flu outbreak was reported in Puri, avian influenza has now been detected in some poultry farms in Kendrapada district of Odisha, prompting the authorities to launch culling operations.

Sources said the samples from some Kendrapada villages had been sent to the National Institute for High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, for test and these have been found positive for H5N1 virus, confirming bird flu in the area.

The authorities have declared the villages of Balia and Ender of Derabish block in the district as epicentres of avian influenza.

Fisheries and Animal Resources Department has directed the district Collector to launch culling operations and sanitization measures within one km radius of the infected zone in those villages to control and containment of H5N1 virus as per government guidelines.

In Ender, Nilakanthapur-Nilakanthapur, Pachisimaniapatana, Bibhutipada, Satabatia, Tilanga, and Baghala villages happen to be the epicentres of the infection. Similarly, villages Balia, Ario, Oukhanda, Mulanapatana, Jagulaipada, Deshpur, Chasakhanda, Golarhat, Dumukahata, Narua and Satabatia are part of the epicentre in Balia.

Following detection of bird flu, the movement of live birds from and to the infected zone has been completely banned by the district administration. Similarly, disposal of dead birds and infected materials is being carried out as per protocol.

Steps have been taken to seal the premises and carry out clean-up and disinfection. The administration will also pay compensation for the forced culling of poultry birds, and destruction of eggs and poultry feed as per the prevailing rate of compensation communicated by the Government of India.

Shops and markets dealing with poultry products within a radius of 10km from the infected sites shall remain closed until further orders.

Surveillance has been intensified across the district to prevent further spread of bird flu to fresh areas.