For the first time in the state on Sunday, bird flu was confirmed in Keranga (India) where an estimated 40,000 poultry birds are being bred. In 2005, 2006 and 2008, bird flu scare had gripped Odisha leading to mass culling of poultry birds.
A Central team reached in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday to take stock of the bird flu situation here. The government will take a final decision on whether to go for mass culling of poultry birds in the affected Keranga area of Khurda district after considering their feedback, official sources said.
Dr Tara Shankar Pain from Kolkata, who has experience in handling bird flu, along with local veterinary officers visited Keranga where the avian influenza strain was confirmed, said Benudhar Dash, director of animal husbandry and veterinary services. Another scientist was scheduled to reach here, he added. "We will wait for the scientists' feedback for next course of action though we are well prepared to do whatever is required," Dash said.
Dash said the department will be extremely careful in taking any step since there was no mass death of poultry in the affected area. The government has made 10 provisional teams comprising officials from veterinary, health, police and forest departments for culling of animals if required. No final decision has been taken, he said. The government has formed six surveillance teams and three medical teams as a precautionary measure, he added.
Source: The Times of India
