October 31, 2012

India's Bangalore farm culls chickens, ducks, emus due to bird flu

A state-run farm at Hesaraghatta, on the outskirts of Bangalore, India, has culled thousands of infected chickens, ducks and emus, as authorities moved to contain the deadly avian flu.

Reports said about 19,235 chickens, 13,673 ducks and 370 emus have been culled at the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) farm and in neighbouring Hesaraghatta since Monday (Oct.29) to prevent the spread of H5N1 influenza.

Hesaraghatta is about 25 kilometres north-west of Bangalore city centre.

Avian influenza was first detected in turkey and chicken reared in a farm of the CPDO in Karnataka, where the deadly pathogenic virus had claimed over 3,600 turkeys over the last fortnight. This was confirmed by tests of samples conducted at the high security animal health laboratory in Bhopal, sources said.

Tests also confirmed that a flock of 206 chicken and 17 ducks died last week due to the bird flu, which forced authorities to cull the chickens and ducks. Authorities have ordered closure of all chicken farms in the vicinity and stopped all sale and movement of birds with immediate effect.

Reports said 81 samples collected from the restricted zone around Hesaraghatta have so far been sent to the Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal.

The animal husbandry department had already notified ban on chicken sale within a 10-kilometre radius around CPDOTI until further notice. At present, 10 teams are involved in surveillance work while 25 rapid response teams have been formed for culling and disposal of the birds.

While no human case of avian influenza has yet been reported, animal husbandry officials are planning to isolate persons with the symptoms of avian influenza to be sent to government hospital for diagnosis. However, no case of avian influenza has been reported anywhere else in India.