February 7, 2012

India to cull 47,000 poultry birds to contain bird flu outbreak

Culling of birds began Sunday (Feb 5) in Bhubaneswar and its adjoining areas to contain spread of bird flu and at least 47,000 poultry birds will be culled in the next three days.

The state government went for culling of birds following detection of avian flu in a farm of the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) here.

According to state fisheries and animal resources department sources, a huge pit has been dug outside the city to bury the culled birds. Besides, elaborate arrangements have been made for disinfecting the area.

While 10 rapid response teams (RRT) have been formed to handle the situation, five of them have been engaged in the culling operation and the rest in creating awareness among people in 29 wards of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.

The culling operation was launched after the state government received an advisory in this regards from the Centre on Saturday evening.

The operation, scheduled to be completed in three days, including culling of 30,000 birds at the CPDO. Some of the rare varieties bred at the Central poultry farm, which also face the gallows.