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Shillong, Jan.11: Bird flu was confirmed in Williamnagar in East Garo Hills after the district administration received a positive report from the Bhopal-based High Security Disease Diagnostic Laboratory this evening.
The East Garo Hills district administration had sent the samples on Monday to Bhopal to confirm whether the recent deaths of nearly 3,000 chicken have anything to do with bird flu as initial reports suggested that a viral infection had caused their death.
The samples were taken from the government-run poultry farms and some private households in Williamnagar in East Garo Hills.
Following the confirmation of bird flu, East Garo Hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi said 25,500 birds will be culled tomorrow all over Williamnagar.
“After the confirmation of bird flu it is not wise for the people to consume chicken and the entry of poultry to the state is also banned with immediate effect,” he said.
Earlier, the East Garo Hills district administration had issued instructions to the people to not consume chicken and other poultry products after the death of 3,000 chickens recently. No case of the disease was reported from the other six districts of the state. The adjacent districts, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, are also on alert and the officials of these two districts are in touch with Shillong officials of animal husbandry and veterinary for assistance.
The East Garo Hills deputy commissioner said the information and public relations department would continue to make announcements to the people to not eat chicken or other poultry products. The district administration suspects that the migratory birds have become carriers of the disease. Moreover, there was a largescale import of chicken from outside the state during the festive season.
Animal husbandry and veterinary officials from Shillong visited East Garo Hills and had consultations with the district veterinary officers on the need to contain the outbreak of the disease.
“Rapid response teams were formed to see that they assist the district administration in case of any further deaths of chicken,” the deputy commissioner said. Protective gear was also brought from Shillong to be used for culling for the next one week.
Birds within 3km radius will be culled and compensation paid to the affected people, the deputy commissioner said. A task force has been formed to assess the situation in remote areas.
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