Chicken died due to cold in Keonjhar; bird flu in Rourkela, says secy

Bhubaneswar/Rourkela: The chickens have not been affected with avian flu in Rourkela, but a zoo bird and a crow have been tested positive for the H5N1 virus, says Fisheries and Animal Husbandry secretary Bishnupada Sethy said.

"Bird flu has not detected in chicken in Rourkela area, but in a zoo bird and a crow in Panposh of the city. In Keonjhar, the lab report confirmed that chicken died due to heavy cold. Similarly, the chickens died of Ranikhet disease in Bhadrak", Sethy added.

Meanwhile, a task force meeting chaired by Rourkela ADMO has been held in presence of Forest, animal husbandry and other administrative officials. Two animal experts have also reached the steel city to review the situation.

The experts will visit the affected areas and will aware people about the disease. The administration has closed the Indira Gandhi park for indefinite time after the virus detected in a bird. The rapid response team is being trained to control the avian flu.