The district administration has geared up to contain the spread of avian influenza (bird flu), which has caused the death of several chickens reported in Nellore district recently. The Animal Husbandry Department has sent the samples to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal, which confirmed that the birds died of bird flu.
Since the bird deaths were reported from Chatagatla village in Podalakur mandal and Gummalladibba in Kovur mandal, the district authorities banned the sale and possession of chicken in a radius of 10 km from the affected villages for three days and around 1 km for three months. Similarly, the movement of poultry animals in and out of the marked region is also banned for 15 days.
Caution raised
“Persons employed in poultry farms should exercise caution and stay safe. Dead birds should be properly buried and not disposed of indiscriminately”, said district Collector M. Hari Narayanan at a high-level meeting on Friday.
Awareness programmes
Mr. Narayanan instructed the District Panchayat Officer and Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer to visit the two affected villages and conduct ‘gram sabhas’ to create awareness on the issue.
Meanwhile, the Police Department plunged into action to close down the poultry farms and retail vending outlets in the vicinity of the affected villages.
