August 10, 2007

India continues poultry culling over bird flu

The slaughtering of poultry in Manipur, India continues to prevent further spread of avian influenza.

Th Dorendra, director of the State Veterinary Department, said that 331,606 birds were culled and 28,107 eggs and about 25,242 kilograms feed were also destroyed. He added that surveillance within a radius of 5 to 10 kilometres from Chingmeirong  (where the flu was initially detected) is in place.

Leader of Bharat Krishak Samaj, Krishan Bir Choudhary said the disease must have come from Myanmar or Bangladesh and intensified investigation should be done as exotic birds are more efficient carriers of the virus.

The government fixed a compensation for the poultry, which is at a rate of Rs 10 (0.18 euros, US$0.24) per chick, Rs 40 (0.72 euros, US$1.78) for layers and Rs 30 (0.54 euros, US$0.74) for broilers. There have been no reports of the virus being transferred to humans.