Bhubaneswar: Odisha government on Saturday decided
to go for culling of fowls in the state capital from Sunday
in the wake of detection of avian influenza in a farm of the
Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) here.
"We have received advisory from the Central government
to start culling," Satyabrata Sahu, secretary, Fisheries and
Animal Resources Development department, said.
About 30,000 fowls at the CPDO farm were likely to be
killed during the culling process.
H5N1 virus was detected after culling took place at
Keranga in Khurda district and Betanati in Mayurbhanj district
last month, Sahu said.
CPDO, a Central government organisation, had sent sample
of some fowls to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory
(HSADL) in Bhopal after some chicken died at the poultry farm
here.
The Bhopal-based Central laboratory confirmed the
detection of bird flu virus in a sample to the Central
government which in turn informed the state government.
Sahu convened an emergency meeting to discuss the matter
with officials of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
At least 10 rapid response teams (RRT) have been formed
and officials are put on high alert to keep a close watch on
the surrounding area, an official said.
PTI
