Bhubaneswar, Jan. 3: Reports of bird flu from various parts of the state have put the state government on its toes with officials in the affected districts, including the state capital, being asked to take adequate measures to stop the spread of the disease.
Officials of the fisheries and animal resources department today concluded culling operations at Keranga village in Khurda district where the disease was reported first. The villagers have been asked not to rear or sell poultry for at least the next three months.
The administration in Rourkela has decided to step up collection of samples from affected birds by expanding the area of collection from one to 10km. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Sundergarh collector B.S. Punia today.
Ten teams comprising four members each have been formed to keep a watch on the situation. There are two epicentres of bird flu in Rourkela - the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) colony and Indira Gandhi Park. Four teams will be working within 1km radius of these areas.
One team has been sent to Sialjore, Rampur, Pasara and Kacharu villages across the Koel river in Kuarnmunda block. Chickens were found dead in these four villages yesterday. "We have not taken any decision on culling of the chickens but we plan to vaccinate over three lakhs birds in the vicinity," said Punia.
Chief district veterinary officer Dilip Kumar Pattnaik said they had not found any symptoms of bird flu anywhere except CISF colony and IG Park, so far, but have found signs of Ranikhet Disease (RD), which is similar to avian influenza. "The birds will be vaccinated with RD vaccine for protection," said Pattnaik.
After dead crows were found at Nayapalli in Bhubaneswar yesterday, the municipal corporation has come up with an action plan to prevent the disease from spreading. Although commissioner-cum-secretary of the fisheries and animal resources development department, Bisnupada Sethi, said the crow deaths in Nayapalli could have been due to the cold, the civic body is not taking chances.
The carcasses of four more crows were found near Kandia Park at Unit III today. "We have collected the samples of the dead crows and sent them for tests. A rapid response team has been formed in the city. Sanitation will be carried out on a priority basis mainly in the slums," said a senior civic body official.
In Baripada, the district veterinary department has sent samples of birds for testing to Cuttack suspecting bird flu. So far, bird deaths have been reported from Udla, Kaptipada, Betnoti, Baripada and the surrounding areas of Mayurbhanj. "We have collected the samples of one dead crow from Udla and a bird from Baripada town and sent them for examination to Cuttack.," said Sasanka Panigrahi, chief district veterinary officer of Mayurbhanj.
So far, cases of the bird deaths have been reported from Kendrapada, Cuttack, Keonjhar, Bhadrak, Rourkela, Khurda and Bhubaneswar.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY RAJESH MOHANTY IN ROURKELA
AND SIBDAS KUNDU IN MAYURBHANJ
