The Odisha government today formally started culling of chicken suspected to be affected by H5N1 virus at Keranga village under Khurda district.
The villagers came forward to support the culling operation after they were made aware on the impact of Bird Flu, which may also affect human beings, said fisheries and animal resources secretary B P Sethi.
Sethi said the people have been assured of compensation for the loss of chicken for culling.
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While Rs 115 per kilogram of chicken was being given, the poultry farmers were also given assistance for damage of chicken feed.
Stating that in a bid to ensure that the avian influenza don't spread to other areas including the nearby Chilika Lake where lakhs of migratory bird congregate during winter, Sethi said "We have started culling as a precautionary measure. Apart from this we have kept all areas in the state under surveillance. We have also requested the people to inform us at once if they find any dead birds in other areas."
The state government said the people need not panic over the culling as there was no harm in taking eggs and chicken.
On the recurrence of Bird Flu in Keranga village, Sethi said the it was detected in this village and in its periphery in 2012.
"We doubt then (in 2012) the culling was not properly done. The ducks are primarily the carrier of this virus. But their culling was not done at that time in Keranga. Due to this the recurrence of Bird Flu has taken place," he said.
Sethi also rejected the fear that the Flu was carried to Odisha by the migratory birds coming to Chilika.
He said any bird, if it was affected with avian influenza, would die within 24 hours. A bird afflicted with avian influenza cannot fly long distance.
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