Following the outbreak of Avian Influenza (bird flu) in Bidar district of Karnataka, the entry of poultry, including ducks, eggs and egg products, chicken, meat and feed from that State has been banned by Tamil Nadu. Vehicles from that State are being checked at 42 inter-State check points and being sent back.
All check posts in 10 bordering districts have been provided with enough disinfectants for spraying on vehicles entering the State. On Friday, P. Balakrishna Reddy the newly-appointed Minister for Animal Husbandry, held a meeting with department officials and reviewed the precautionary measures taken .
Poultry products from Karnataka suspected to be contaminated will be identified and safely destroyed. Teams of Animal husbandry officials will take a survey of unusual sickness and mortality in poultry farms and also inspect poultry meat shops for any symptoms of lesions of flu in live and slaughtered birds.
The sale of eggs and broiler chicken has not been affected due to the scare, so far. In fact, there is a demand for eggs in the State as production has been down for quite some time, said Tamil Nadu Poultry Farmers Association President R. Nallathambi. “This year so far we have had no instances of bird flu in the State and sale has not been affected in any way. In Karnataka over a lakh birds have been culled because of the infection. Wholesale price of egg has been reduced in Namakkal from Rs. 4.10 to Rs. 3.90 as the price has reduced in Hyderabad,” he explained.
Many farmers, who have taken note of the threat of flu, however, say a change in climate could usher in a bout of flu in the State too.
R. M. Senthil Kumar, State Deputy General Secretary, Tamil Nadu Karikozhi Valarppu Vivasayigal Sangam said crows and other birds too are susceptible to the flu.
Advice to farmers
“Companies usually ask poultry farms to cull birds if there are signs of the flu. To prevent the infection, farmers must spray bleaching powder around the farm, disinfect ourselves before we enter the bird enclosures, and don’t allow birds including crows to enter the farm,” he said.
The sale of eggs
and broiler chicken has not been affected due to the scare
so far
