Odisha Government Culls Over 11,700 Chickens Amid Bird Flu Outbreak, Health Department Issues Alert

The Odisha government has culled over 11,700 chickens in Pipili, Puri district, following the detection of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, an official reported on Monday. The culling operation began on Saturday after mass deaths of chickens were reported at a local poultry farm and was completed by Monday evening. Additional culling in homes and nearby villages is scheduled for Tuesday.

Jagannath Nanda, Additional Director of Disease Control, stated that 13 rapid response teams are involved in the culling process, with some poultry farm owners independently conducting culling. No other unusual chicken deaths have been reported in other parts of the state, he added.

In response to the outbreak, the state health department has heightened surveillance and issued an alert. Director of Health Services Bijay Mohapatra noted that while bird flu is not new to Odisha, the department is actively coordinating with stakeholders to manage the situation. He assured that there is an adequate supply of medicines and advised poultry workers to maintain hygiene and wear masks to prevent the spread of the virus.

Source: Business Standard