Kerala on alert after bird flu outbreak
KOZHIKODE: Kerala government on Saturday issued high alert throughout the state following confirmation of two cases of bird flu (avian flu or H5N1) in the district.
A poultry farm in Kodiyathur village, 30 km from here and another one at Vengeri situated in the Kozhikode corporation limits reported the flu, which hit the state in 2016 earlier. The animal husbandry department has imparted training classes to district level rapid response team to carry out preventive measures. The two cases were first tested in a lab in Kannur and later sent to a lab in Bhopal. The state government has issued a statewide alert after confirmation was received from Bhopal.
A total of 2000 birds died due to the disease in the farm owned by Sereena and Majeed at Puthiyottil in Kodiyathoor. The second case was reported at farm owned by Venu at Thadambattuthazham in Vengeri.
An official with the district animal husbandry department said that district Collector Sambasiva Rao is slated to call a meeting with the officials soon to chalk out an action plan to put in place an effective preventive measure to check the spreading of the disease.
Minister of Forest and Wildlife Protection, K Raju chaired a high level meeting with concerned officials in Trivandrum to take stock of the situation. The animal welfare department stated that there is nothing to be concerned about and everything is under control. Inspections will be carried out throughout the state. An expert group will hold inspection within one kilometre radius of the two farms.
Department of Animal Husbandry appointed 25 five-member groups to kill and burn poultry birds within 1 kilometre area in Kodiyathoor and Vengeri to check spread of the flu. All types of poultry birds will be killed as part of preventive steps. The nests on trees and eggs will be destroyed. In addition to this, an alert has been issued in 10 km area around the places where bird flu was reported. The district administration directed to shut down chicken farms and shops in the area.
The Department of Animal Husbandry informed that there is no need to panic and that they have started taking preventive measures. People can consume chicken and eggs without fear. They should only eat wellcooked meat and eggs, it is advised.