Bird flu, also known as Avian influenza (AI), is a zoonotic viral disease that primarily affects poultry and may occasionally spillover to mammals, including humans and swine.
To curb the spread of viral disease Bird flu, the Karnataka government is carrying out mass culling. As per the officials, H5N1 was confirmed in the Regional Poultry Breeding and Training Centres of Kurekuppa, Ballari District and Chikkaballapur District at NIHSAD Lab, Bhopal on February 25. The matter was reported to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Health and Family Welfare, following which an area of radius 3 kms around the infected site was notified as “Infected Area
As per the data shared by a senior official, on Friday (28 February), 292 poultry birds were culled and 64 eggs were destroyed in Chikkaballapur. Similarly, 1,020 poultry birds were culled in Ballari and no eggs were destroyed there. During culling, cullers and transporters were provided with appropriate personal protective equipment like surgical masks, protective clothing, gloves, goggles and disposable shoe covers as a preventive measure, he said.
All poultry and egg markets/shops within a radius of 10 kms from the infected site should be immediately closed, and instructions in this regard have been given to the concerned officials at the district levels. “All the poultry products, including meat, eggs and waste materials, like used litter and manure, must not be allowed to move out of the infected premises and should be destroyed at once, including any material left over from the period before the disease was reported,” official stated.
“As of now, bird flu cases have been detected only in three districts. We have stepped up our surveillance in other districts as well. All precautionary measures are being taken. We have been creating awareness and educating people, conducting meetings with health, revenue, animal husbandry and veterinary services officials,” he added. Senior health department official urged people to not panic and assured that the government is taking all the precautionary measures. Citing protocol, the official said the area between the radius of 3 kms and 10 kms around the infected site should be notified as a surveillance area, which was done.
The official further explained the protocols to be followed in such cases, and said that culling of all the birds and eggs within 1 km area with deep burial is also being done as a precautionary measure as required. Prophylactic medication (Tab Oseltamivir) has been given to close contact persons. They should be isolated for 10 days and watch for flu-like illness.
