Bird flu situation remains grim in Puri: Agriculture Minister

Bhubaneswar: The bird flu situation particularly in some villages under Krushna Prasad block of Puri district still remains grim, said Agriculture minister Pradeep Maharathy today. He further informed that the State government is taking all possible measures to contain the outbreak.

“The bird flu situation remains grim as crow deaths are also being reported in areas close to the affected villages. Several samples have been sent for examination to Bhopal and Cuttack,” said Maharathy.

Maharathy further stated that culling operation has already been carried out in a phased manner at Sana Sahi, Maluda and Patharganj villages of the district, after avian influenza virus was detected on December 12.

Several teams were engaged to carry out culling of chickens in villages within 1 km radius of the affected areas and over 400 birds in two farms at Maluda and Patharganj villages were culled and buried on December 16.

The Animal Resources Development department (ARD) has also sent excreta samples of several migratory birds around Chilika Lake for further examination as a precautionary measure.