Transport of poultry banned, 25000 chicken culled so far

Imphal, Jul 28 (UNI) All the nine district administrations in Manipur have started culling of chicken, infected with avian flu, with the help of 32 Rapid Reaction Team (RRT).

Officials here today said the RRT were carrying out the culling process at several areas of the state, including Lilashing Khongnangkhong, Deulahland, Mantripukhri, Chingmeirong, Lairikyengbam Leikai and Tangkhul Avenue.

So far 25,000 chicken were culled since Thursday last and the transport of the poultry had been banned fearing further spread of the disease.

Meanwhile, there were also reports of large number death of chickens at Churachandpur district due to E Coli.

Police said that some people have handed over 2000 chicks at Bishenpur district. The chicks were brought from Imphal.

Veterinary department director Dr Th Dorendro had appealed to the people to cooperate in the culling process after the presence of Avian influenza was confirmed on July 25 afternoon at Chingmeirong.

The state government had immediately passed an order to cull all chicken and duck within a radius of five km of Chingmeirong here.

An estimated 1.5 lakh of the poultry would be culled in the state.

However, many poultry farmers were trying to hide the ducks and chickens following low compensation amount given to them for culling of the birds, veterinary officials said.

The government had fixed the compensation amount to the loss of poultry at Rs 10 per chick, Rs 40 for layers and Rs 30 for broilers.

Veterinary officials said the Union Ministry of Agriculture had warned the state government against the presence of H5N1 strain of Avian flu virus, which is more contagious and could infect people.

UNI