Bird flu outbreak: Chicken culling operations intensified in Puri

Puri: Mass culling of chicken was carried out in the affected villages under Krushna Prasad block of the district today as bird flu situation continued to remain grim. Nearly 1,000 chickens were found dead at a farm in Naba village of the district today.

After the detection of avian influenza virus in four villages under Krushna Prasad block of the district three days ago, the administration began mass culling of chicken to prevent the viral infection from spreading to other areas.

As per reports, 300 chickens were segregated from the poultry farm of one Sunil Nayak of Nandaka village today.

Earlier, on December 16, over 400 birds were culled and buried in two farms at Maluda and Patharganj villages.

According to sources, several teams have been engaged in the culling operation carried out in a phased manner within one km radius of the affected areas at Maluda, Buda Sahi, Sana Sahi, Nua Sahi and Patharghati villages.

Meanwhile the laboratory reports of the blood samples from the infected birds are yet to be received.

Concerned over the loss in his poultry farming, Prakash Chandra Biswal, a local resident said, “Officials have collected the blood samples yesterday and assured that they will take necessary steps if the test reports come positive. I had availed loans for my poultry farm and now after the losses due to the flu, I am worried on how to repay the loans.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Odisha Agriculture Minister PradeepMaharathy stated that the bird flu situation in the affected region still remains grim and the State government was taking all possible measures to contain the outbreak.

As a precautionary measure, the State Government has asked schools and anganwadi centres not to provide eggs to children. Similarly, sale of eggs and chicken has been banned in Krushna Prasad block for next few days.