Situation In Bird Flu-Hit Areas In Odisha Under Control

Bhubaneswar: Though the situation in bird flu-hit areas in Odisha is under control following precautionary measures by the animal resources department (ARD), deaths of a number of crows and pigeons are still being reported from some parts of the state.

Meanwhile, poultry culling by the Rapid Response Team (RRT) in Krushnaprasad block in Puri district continued for the fifth day on Tuesday.

The culling, taken up by five rapid response teams with three survey teams on December 14, was completed in Krushaprasad block (marked as the red zone area) on Monday. As decided, the teams began their operation in the yellow zone (areas situated within 1-10 km radius of the red zone) on Tuesday.

As informed by the additional district veterinary officer (ADVO) Dayanidhi Behera, a total of 4605 hens were culled and 410 eggs destroyed by the teams on Monday.

He also said that the survey teams had collected more than 10 dead crows from different villages under Brahmagiri blocks and burnt them at a place.

Stating that the ARD is yet to receive the reports of the sample excreta of 70 birds from Brahmagiri area sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal, the ADVO said in view of the outbreak of bird flu in the Chilika Lake, the tourists are now allowed to visit Nalabana. To take stock of the situation, 12 teams of the Forest department have been deployed in the area, he added.

The ARD had sent excreta samples of 12 migratory birds from Nalabana to Bhopal, Behera said.

While there are reports about death of two migratory birds in Nalabana, the Forest department has not provided any detailed information about the same.