Himachal Pradesh, Kerala and Rajasthan confirmed bird flu (avian influenza) to be the cause of death of hundreds of birds as several other states including Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand sounded alerts on the disease. The death of migratory birds - 2,300 till Monday - in the Pong Dam reservoir area in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh was due to avian flu, chief conservator of forests, Dharamshala, Upasana Patiyal confirmed.
As a precaution, the state government has banned the sale, purchase and slaughter of poultry in Fatehpur, Dehra, Jawali and Indora sub-divisions of Kangra district. Veterinarians collect samples from where the birds were found.
Poultry products, fish export from Kerala stopped
Export of poultry products and fish from Kerala has also been stopped. The animal husbandry department staff has been directed to constitute rapid response teams to tackle the spread of the disease. Kerala’s minister for forests, wildlife and animal husbandry, K Raju said bird flu was reported in Kottayam and Alappuzha and that 12,000 ducks were killed by the disease.
Authorities have been instructed to cull all birds within one-km radius of the areas in which bird flu was reported. This would include all types of poultry and ornamental birds. Raju said 36,000 birds will have to be culled to avoid further spread of the disease.
Soon after Bird Flu attack was confirmed in Alappuzha, the collector directed officials to take all possible steps to prevent the spread of the disease. This is the third outbreak of bird flu in Alappuzha over the past seven years.
