Bhubaneswar: Amid the bird flu scare in several parts of the country, hundreds of chickens were reportedly found dead at a poultry farm in Badaberana village, Begunia in the last three days.
According to sources, over 700 chickens were found dead at the farm yesterday. Prior to that, carcasses of several hundred chickens were discovered at the farm.
The exact reason behind the large-scale bird deaths is yet to be ascertained. As per reports, no veterinary doctor has yet visited the farm site to carry out investigation into the deaths.
Earlier on Wednesday, Odisha chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra had informed that no case of bird flu had been detected in the State yet.
After a review meeting on the possible bird flu scenario in the State, Mohapatra had said around 11,000 samples from different areas were tested but no case has been found positive.
The chief secretary has directed officials to intensify surveillance activities and ordered the formation of ‘Rapid Response Team’ at the State and the district level to mitigate any possible outbreak.
He further said that the State is ready to counter and control any possible outbreak of bird flu.
On the other hand, Khordha Chief District Veterinary Officer Dr Bishnu Charan Sahoo on Tuesday had informed that around 400 bird samples from Chilika have been sent for examination.
Besides, poultry samples from OUAT were also sent to the Animal Disease Research Institute at Phulnakhara for tests as a precautionary measure, he had said.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)