TV
Following the official confirmation of bird flu (H5N1 avian influenza) in Mundaamba village of Khordha district earlier last week, the authorities at Nandankanan Zoological Park have implemented heightened surveillance and precautionary measures to prevent any possible spread of the virus within the facility.
Sources reported that as part of its emergency protocol, Nandankanan Zoo has restricted visitor access to its open aviary and issued directives to bar the entry of external vendors supplying chicken, eggs, or related products.
Zoo officials have been instructed to submit daily reports on bird behaviour and health, which will be reviewed directly by the park's Director and Deputy Director.
All vehicles entering the zoo premises will now be routed through a disinfection pool to reduce the risk of viral transmission. Additionally, independent protective gear kits, including gloves and safety kits, have been provided to all bird-keeping staff and veterinary personnel, said reports.
"We have taken several precautionary measures to prevent bird flu contamination in the zoo. Every bird enclosure is being regularly disinfected. Attention is being given to prevent birds from outside the zoo from defecating or littering on the enclosures,” said Rudra Prasad Rath, Assistant Forest Conservator, Nandankanan.
Surveillance Zone Extended Around Zoo
The zoo administration has placed all bird habitats, particularly those within a two-kilometre radius of poultry farms, under close observation. With Nandankanan home to hundreds of native and exotic birds, authorities are treating the threat with utmost seriousness.
As such, a separate veterinary unit is monitoring potential symptoms among birds and coordinating with the state’s rapid response teams to ensure early detection of any abnormalities.
Bird Flu In Odisha
The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, confirmed the presence of the virus on Friday after testing samples from the affected village. This development comes just weeks after reports of unexplained poultry deaths in Puri’s Delang block, where over 3,000 chickens reportedly died, raising early fears of a potential outbreak.
The state government, meanwhile, has launched a massive containment and culling operation in Khordha, with over a dozen rapid response teams active in the area. A one-kilometer radius around the outbreak site has been declared a containment zone.
