Paradip: The port town authorities have begun culling of poultry birds on Sunday evening after samples of various dead birds were tested as flu positive.

Panic has gripped the port town after the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (Nihsad) in Bhopal found traces of avian influenza in the birds.

Authorities have sounded flu alert clamping prohibition on sale of chicken and ducks for human consumption in the township and its surroundings.

However, chief medical officer of Paradip Port Trust Hospital Prahlad Panda said there was no reason to panic as the chances of the virus infecting human beings were very remote.

"Only those who are in contact with infected birds and the health workers examining the poultry workers are at risk. The health department has also launched a campaign to ensure that people do not panic. We have started distributing leaflets and making public announcements asking people to refrain from panicking," he said.

"The sale of poultry birds has been prohibited in most parts of the port town. The culling of poultry birds is being conducted to curb possible influenza attack on humans," said Jagatsinghpur additional district magistrate Sachitanand Sahu.

The epicentre of flu outbreak is at Badapadia and Sandhakuda. The culling operation of poultry birds has begun in these areas.

There was initial resistance to the culling operation. However, poultry owners later relented and consented to the culling of birds, said chief district veterinary officer Ramesh Behera.

A fortnight ago, crows' samples were tested flu positive in a diagnosis at the Animal Disease Research Institute, Odisha. The same was later confirmed by Nihsad, Bhopal.