Poultry culling in flu-hit district

Bhopal, Mar 29: Culling of nearly 7,000 chicken was carried out today (Mar 29, 2006) in 23 villages adjoining Ichhapur in Burhanpur district of western Madhya Pradesh, where avian flu was detected , official sources said.

The state government, which sounded a high alert, also announced increased compensation to poultry owners, while a strict ban was enforced on transportation of the poultry in areas bordering Maharashtra and Gujarat, where bird flu had already been detected.

One, among 135 samples of poultry died between March 15 and 22 in Ichhapur, located very close to flu-hit Jalgaon district in Maharashtra, had been tested positive yesterday at the city's High Security Animal Disease Laboratory.

Measures to prevent spread of the disease had been taken in all 23 villages, where rapid response teams had been deployed, State Veterinary Services Commissioner Rajesh Rajora said.

The compensation had been raised from Rs 40 to Rs 60 for broiler, from Rs 30 to Rs 40 for layer and from Rs 10 to Rs 20 for chicks, official sources said.

Only one organised poultry farm having a total of 1300 chicken was functioning at Nachankheda village, while other chicken from backyard poultry were also being culled, the sources said, adding disinfection operation was being carried out in 2,000 houses and backyard poultry farms.

The High Security Animal Disease Laboratory, the only such facility in Asia, had also tested positive five poultry samples from Jalgaon yesterday, its Acting Director Dr H K Pradhan said.

UNI