Poultry industry in Telangana has suffered a debilitating blow with the officials confirming the outbreak of bird flu and culling of nearly two lakh birds on the city outskirts. State Minister for Health and Medical Education lakshma Reddy said the poultry birds were found affected by the H5N1 virus in Thorrur village under Haytnagar mandal of Ranga Reddy district and an alert has been sounded throughout the State.
“But there is no need for any panic as the Government has taken all the necessary precautionary measures,” he said. A team of officials from the Central Government also arrived in Hyderabad to assess the situation and recommend necessary steps.
The State animal husbandry department has formed 62 teams of veterinary doctors to over see the culling of the affected birds and bury them. A close watch was being kept on the other major poultry centers in Warngal, Nalgonda and other districts. “Those working in the poultry farms have also been advised to take the necessary steps. They were also provided with Tami Flu tablets,” the Minister said.
Officials said that areas within 1 km periphery of the affected poultry farms have been declared as infected zones and areas within 10 kms radius are being treated as surveillance zones.
The outbreak of the flu was confirmed by a Bhopal-based laboratory, where the samples of dead birds were sent for examination, following unusually large number of birds dying in the last few days.
The outbreak of the bird flu is a bad news for poultry industry of Telangana as it can affect the sentiments of the consumers leading to a drastic fall in the consumption of chicken and eggs. Poultry is one of the major sectors in the State producing 40 million kgs of chicken and 900 million eggs per month contributing Rs 100 billion to the State Gross State Domestic Product.
While the united Andhra Pradesh witnessed bird flu scare in 2006 after the virus was found in neighboring Maharashtra, this is the first time the virus was found in Telangana itself.
This has come close on the heels of swine flu virus which claimed 70 lives in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh during the winter season.