Central Team To Visit Odisha Tomorrow To Review Bird Flu Situation

Bhubaneswar: Amid bird flu outbreak in some parts of Odisha, a Central team is slated to arrive in the state on Wednesday to take stock of the situation and work out measures required to contain further spread of the avian influenza.

Official sources said that the Central team comprising senior officials and experts from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) will undertake a two-day visit to the state for further monitoring.

Apart from visiting the affected areas in Puri district, members of the Central team will also hold discussion with the state government officials for a thorough review of the situation arising out of the bird flu outbreak.

The Centre has assured all forms of support to the state for control and containment of the outbreak.

Meanwhile, more than 35,000 birds have been culled in the areas affected by bird flu in the state so far.
The situation has already been reviewed at a high-level meeting of Central and state government officials held through video-conference. Officials of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and Collectors of Puri, Kendrapada and Khurda also attended the meeting.
Notably, four epicentres of the outbreak of bird flu have been confirmed in Pipili, Satyabadi, Nimapada and Delanga blocks of Puri district so far.
The control and containment operation is being carried out as per the action plan of the Central government. While the operation has been completed at Pipili and Satyabadi, the process was underway at Delanga and Nimapada areas of Puri.
Altogether 51 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been engaged in culling, disposal of birds and sanitation in infected zone.

The state government has asked the authorities concerned to take up massive public awareness, intensify clinical surveillance in nearby areas and prevent entry of poultry, feed and poultry related products to the affected areas.
Meanwhile, outbreak bird flu has been suspected in Kendrapada district after residents of Narsinghpur area noticed six bags of dead chickens. Many dead chickens were found beside a road in Narsinghpur panchayat of Derabisha police station limits.
As the development created panic among villagers in the area, the district animal husbandry authorities collected samples from all the poultry farms in the area and sent for laboratory test. The reports are awaited.