Humans being tested in Godavari districts in aftermath of bird flu

Officials have declared 51 villages in the region as surveillance zones, about within one-km radius of the poultry farms where bird flu has broken out. Medical camps have been set up and 65 teams are going around checking humans for bird flu.

West Godavari district collector Ch. Nagarani said all poultry farms in the infection zone will be closed for three months. East Godavari district collector P. Prashanthi, along with revenue, police, panchayatraj and medical and health department officials, visited Kanuru Agraharam village in Peravali mandal, where the bird flu had broken out, leading to the death of birds.

The EG collector said one-kilometre area around the poultry farms has been declared as “Limited Zone” and 10-km are the “Surveillance Zone.” Officials will identify workers of chicken shops and conduct medical tests on them.

Animal husbandry, revenue and panchayat officials are taking steps to safely bury the deceased birds while taking all precautions. RDO Rani Sushmitha, DMHO Dr. K. Venkateswara Rao, district Animal Husbandry joint director T. Srinivasa Rao and others were present.

Reviewing the situation, the WG district collector said all the birds in the infected zone will be culled and buried. 17 villages in the vicinity of the poultry farms have been declared as surveillance zone, including the Komaravaram, Attili, Kavalipuram, Ayiar Cheruvu, Goteru, Mandapaka, Iragavaram, Tethali, Relangi, Gummampadu, Pali, Vorigedu, Ballipadu, Tanuki, Mallipadu and Arjunidipalem villages.

All chicken shops and egg sales have been shut in the area. Collector Nagarani said to curb transportation of birds, chicken and eggs from the areas, five check posts

have been set up on the National Highway near Velpur area. West Godavari SP Adnan Nayeem Asmi and others were present.