JOIN USThe culling of the chickens infected with H5N1 virus (Avian Influenza) at a private farm situated on the National Highway - 9 near Molkera village in Humnabad taluk, began late on Tuesday noon.
The blood and other samples of the chickens collected by the Animal Husbandry department and sent to the Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Bhopal, have confirmed the chickens being infected with the H5N1 virus.
Officials of Animal Husbandry department and the district administration have taken up joint operations to cull the chicken. At least 10 pits have been dug up at various spots on the 14 acres of the farm. These pits are 30 feet in length, six feet wide and six feet deep. The preliminary work for culling began on Monday itself.
At least 1.5 lakh chickens which are said to be infected, will be culled, loaded in bags and dumped into the pits which will be sealed with lime stone to prevent further infection, an official supervising the operation, informed. The government had released funds for culling and sterilising the farm. The expenses involved in the operations would run into more than Rs 50 lakh.
Total 250 personnel from the Veterinary department have been engaged in the task. As many as 50 teams, comprising five members in each team, have been formed and each team is being led by a veterinarian, two ‘D’ group staff and two veterinary assistants.
The teams have been adequately trained and a health check-up of the members prior to the operation, has been conducted. The village has received 2,000 Personal Protection Kits for the team members who have also been given Tamiflu as a precautionary measure to safeguard themselves from infections, the official said.
The district administration has banned the sale and transport of chicken within the radius of one km where the farm is situated. Teams have also been deputed at the check posts on the borders of Maharashtra and Telanganna to monitor the entry of unauthorised persons.
The operation is being supervised by the Animal Husbandry department joint director, S S Jambgi. Besides, a team of the central officials attached to the community medicine, visited Molkera and the surrounding villages to create an awareness among the people on bird flu. The residents were educated on the precautionary measures required to be taken and also about the symptoms of the disease.