Efforts on to declare Uchchal taluk virus-free

Surat, Mar 27: An intense surveillance and culling operation continues in Uchchal taluka in the district as part of the governmental effort to declare as virus-free.

More than 1,00,000 birds were culled in various farms in Uchchal when some bird flu cases were reported last month.

Now the government is engaged in an effort to declare the taluka totally virus-free while not taking chances. As part of this operation, Animal Husbandry department is still engaged in culling ''domestic chicken'' in the taluka.

According to the officer-in-charge of the bird flu control room in Surat, 14 teams are engaged in the operation and around 456 birds were colllected and culled on March 25 and 26.

The control room also informed that 42 bird samples collected from 14 talukas were sent to Bhopal to check bird flu virus. These include three samples from a poultry farm in Surat where some chicken deaths were reported.

The officials also informed that a total number of 116 birds were found dead in a poultry farm in Surat over one week.

The entry of chicken from Maharashtra is still in effect and most of the chicken consumed in Surat is coming from Anand and Vesma regions.

UNI