50 chickens die in Alappuzha: hotspot of migratory birds

Alappuzha, Feb 22 (UNI) More than 50 chicken have died in Veliyanadu, south of Alappuzha district, which is considered a hotspot of migratory birds.

The samples from a poultry farm where chickens died yesterday were collected and sent for tests, said Deputy Medical Officer, Alappuzha, Dr Jagan Mohan.

However, he did not clarify whether the mass death of chickens was due to Avian Flu.

He said an epidemic cell had been opened under the DMO.

Alappuzha is frequented by migratory birds, which mainly come from a far as North Eastern Europe and China.

One of the routes to Alappuzha is via Maharashtra, from where the first Avian Flu case was reported. Vembanadu lake is the annual visiting destination of migratory birds. In this light,the district medical office is vigilant.

Officials also requested the public to keep alert about the purity of water in the lakes and the surroundings in the wake of the disease.

Meanwhile, the district medical authorities all thinking of flash raids in fish hatcheries, where ''Mushi,'' a fish imported from Africa, was kept in large numbers. The Hatcheries use chicken waste as food for this wild fish and chicken wastes were bought in large scale from neighbouring states.

UNI XR AA MA GC2056