45,000 chickens culled in Jalgaon so far

Jalgaon, Apr 9 (UNI) About 45,000 chickens have been culled in the district in in Maharashtra till this evening, district collector Vijay Singhal today said.

The operation to cull about 3.10 lakh chickens had begun on April 7 following the outbreak of bird flu in the district. Authorities have quarantined 47 of the total 354 villages to prevent spread of H5N1 virus, Mr Singhal told UNI.

The task of culling the birds would be completed in next four days, the district collector said. Earlier, he had ordered the closure of 19 weekly bazars where people buy and sell eggs and poultry.

The operation would be extended to another 307 villages located in 3 to 10 kms radius of the flu-hit 14 villages, he said.

The 14 flu-hit villages from where the samples tested positive for the deadly virus are Nandra, Pachora, Wadli, Muktainagar, Salebardi, Khamkheda, Chalisgaon, Sakri, Nandgaon, Mehunbare, Mehndi, Pimpri, Vidwa and Bodade, Mr Singhal said, adding these villages are scattered across 9 of the total 15 tehsils of Jalgaon district.

UNI XR-SA KU MSJ RK2103