Culling operations launched in Jalgaon/Ichchapur to control bird flu

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) The Government today launched full fledged culling operations to control the spread of bird flu in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra and Ichchapur village in Burhanpur district of Madhya Pradesh.

In Maharashtra, 80 Rapid Response teams comprising of 400 personnel have been mobilised for operations. The teams were briefed today morning while logistics and deployment plan were developed on yesterday when the disease was notified.

Pits for disposal of birds were also dug up in some villages last evening. The RRTs will first take up culling in villages where pits have been prepared.

In Ichchapur district of Madhya Pradesh, 26 teams consisting of 112 personnel are being used to conduct operations in 23 villages.

Pits were dug up in all the villages yesterday and logistics and deployment plan also finalised. Culling started today and 60 per cent of the birds in the affected area had been culled by 1500 hrs on March 29.

In taluks of Jalgaon where bird flu outbreak was notified on March, 14 culling operations have been completed. House to house mopping for left out birds has also been completed. Clean up and disinfection work has also been completed. More than 94,000 birds have been killed in the operations. An amount of Rs 21,41,160 has been paid as compensation.

The villagers have cooperated in the control and containment operations and have even volunteered to clean up the material dumped along the roadside on their own. White lime is being provided to each household for whitewashing. Cleaning and sanitization work is progressing fast and is likely to be completed shortly. The members of the RRTs involved in culling have been de-mobilized after serving the prescribed period of quarantine.

UNI AJ VD DB2011