Culling operations to begin in Tripura

Agartala, Apr 22 : Following the spread of bird flu, more than 10,000 birds will be culled in villages which falls within five kilometers radius in West Tripura District, official sources said on Tuesday.

"The State Administration has decided to cull 10,000 birds in eight Gram Panchayat areas which falls within five kilometres radius of the affected villages," said official sources.

According to sources, samples of dead poultry from villages in Mohanpur, bordering Bangladesh, were sent to the High Security Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Bhopal last week after the death of hundreds of birds, tested positive.

"A red alert has been sounded to prohibit import of poultry from outside the State, including neighbouring Bangladesh, which shares a 856-kilometres porous border with Tripura," they added.

Border security Forces (BSF) personnel and special surveillance teams are keeping vigil in border areas, the sources said.

Commissioner of Animal Resource Department U Venkateswarlu reviewed the situation at a meeting, which was attended by ARD director, District Health and Medical Officer, District Magistrate and other senior oficials, the sources added.

Earlier on April 6, avian influenza virus was confirmed in samples from Malaya gram panchayat areas of Dhalai district and 40,000 birds were culled.

ANI