Authorities enforce strict measures in Godavari districts, halt inter-district poultry transport, and caution farmers against panic selling to prevent further outbreaks.
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government has curbed the spread of bird flu among chickens by confining the virus to just two affected areas in Godavari districts. Bird samples are being sent for analysis to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal.
Officials from the animal husbandry, revenue, police, forest and other stakeholder departments are actively involved in initiating a series of measures to curb the spread of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. So far, 16,000 infected birds have been culled.
Instructions were issued to cull the affected birds at Anumallanka village of Gampalagudem mandal in NTR district.
As the officials declared red zone areas in a 10km distance from the virus-infected poultry farms, their owners have been instructed not to engage in panic-selling of the birds, fearing that their birds might perish.
As the birds in poultry farms located within one km distance from the infected poultry farms are to be culled, some farmers are trying to sell away the birds located in a 10km area to make money.
The authorities cautioned such farmers that if they resorted to such panic sale of birds located within the red zone area, police will be deployed to curb such practice and action initiated against them. “Such panic sale may result in a spread of the virus to the neighbouring districts and even states,” officials noted.
As the government gives a compensation of `140 per adult bird for those getting culled, officials would ensure that the birds are culled and buried in the presence of the poultry farmers and animal husbandry officials; and compensation will be given after verification.
Officials advised the farmers not to make false claims for compensation as it could invite stern governmental action against them.
Meanwhile, bio-fencing is being done by disinfecting all the affected poultry farms. Inter-district and inter-state transport of birds from the affected areas has been stopped.
Animal husbandry authorities have formed 721 Rapid Response Teams across the state to keep a tab on the spread of the bird flu and to curb transport of birds from the affected areas to other places. These teams are also keeping a close vigil on tanks and lakes to avoid the migratory birds getting infected with the virus mainly in erstwhile Godavari and Krishna districts.
Control rooms have been set up in the affected areas to closely monitor the developments.
Officials have advised the people in uninfected areas to consume chicken and eggs after boiling them so that they need not fear getting infected with the virus, if such chicken are consumed.
Animal husbandry director Dr Damodar Naidu said, “We have culled 16,000 birds so far. Bird flu has been confined to only the affected areas mainly in Godavari districts. No case of fresh infection has been reported.”
“However, we are monitoring things closely and request poultry farmers not to resort to panic selling of birds from the infected areas and also not resort to false claims for compensation,” officials said.
