Bird Flu cases confirmed in Mohali, 25 culling teams deployed
Avian influenza: After the bird flu virus was confirmed in Mohali, Punjab, the culling process, the mainstay of stopping the spread of the virus, will commence in the two affected poultry farms of Derabassi on Friday.
National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, confirmed bird flu virus in the tissue samples forwarded for ascertaining the cause of the death of the birds.
Also Read | Bird flu has put several states on alert; is it safe to consume poultry products?
Twenty-five teams comprising of 5 members each would conduct the culling operation in the Alfa and Royal Poultry Farms in Derabassi, Mohali, Punjab, from where Bird flu was reported.
Culling of over 50,000 birds is expected to be undertaken at the affected epicenter. Requisite safety gear including the PPE kits and face shields as well as the JCB machines have been provided to the culling teams and adequate quarantine arrangement is in place.
Also Read | Bird Flu Outbreak: Punjab reports three positive cases
In the meanwhile, “the 10-kilometer radius of the affected epicenter has been made the containment area to put a tab on any commercial poultry farming activity being conducted therein”, informed DC Girish Dayalan.
Surveillance and sampling have been stepped up and two Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) have been deployed to keep a tab on any deaths of birds (crows/migratory/wild birds) in the district.
The virus involved in Avian influenza is zoonotic; the pathogen can be transmitted from animals to humans as per preliminary reports, the statement issued by the DC stated. So, to detect symptoms of plausible infection in humans, the bird handlers in the affected poultry farms would be examined by the doctors for detection of symptoms.
-PTC News
