Doctors, animal husbandry staffers working overtime in and around the epicentre of the flu.
While the authorities concerned are still groping in the dark about the cause of the spread of avian influenza at the Central Poultry Development Organisation and Training Institute (CPDOTI) farm sources privy to the animal husbandry department are not ruling out the possibility of wild migratory birds being the root cause of the spread of the virus.
The animal and husbandry department authorities have formed six surveillance teams apart from the 25 rapid response teams to contain the spread of avian influenza to other areas. The six teams have collected 175 samples from 10-km surveillance zone and submitted to laboratory for investigation. The sources said that no unusual death of birds was noticed in the surveillance zone or in any part of the state.
As of now, Bangalore Urban deputy commissioner MK Aiyappa has extended ban on marketing and movement of poultry and poultry products to and from the surveillance zone till November 15.
“The rapid response teams have been involved in the culling and disposal of the 19,235 chicken, 13,673 ducks, 369 emus and sanitisation of 52 poultry sheds in the CPDO farm. So far, 19,154 chickens in CPDO have been culled and disposed,” said Aravind Jannu, principal secretary, department of animal husbandry.
Sources said the doctors and staff of animal husbandry department have been working overtime in and around Hesaraghatta. They said the cleaning and surveillance will be on for one month at various poultry farms. “Culling of emus and ducks will be completed within a week. Emus and ducks are bigger than chicken in size so we have to follow some scientific methods while culling emus and ducks,” said Jannu.
No scope for growth
The outbreak of avian influenza at Hesaraghatta is set to hamper the growth and development of poultry industry in Bangalore Urban and Rural districts. According to N Sonnappa, president, Bangalore Poultry Traders’ Association, the price of chicken has come down drastically due to the media publicity on the spread of avian influenza.
“Poultry farmers have been incurring a loss of R 20 to Rs25 per kg. Earlier, the chicken were supplied by poultry farms at Rs50 to Rs60 per kg (farm-lifting price) and the retailers used to sell the chicken with a margin of Rs10 per kg. Now, the chicken price has come down to Rs50,” said Sonnappa.
Echoing the opinion, Mohammed Imran Pasha, who owns a chicken stall at Russel Market, said he could sell the chicken only at Rs52 per kg on Tuesday as against Rs70 per kg a few days ago. Poultry farmers have already complained of sustaining relative losses up to Rs30-40 lakh in the wake of the avian flu outbreak. The latest developments are set to dampen the spirit of the poultry industry.
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