After the detection of positive bird flu samples in the village of Jalgaon the health authorities have ordered house to house checking of any birds and then killing them. Already culling was completed in 23 villages in Burhanpur district. The authorities have stated to prepare their next face of culling operation in three villages of Barwani district. The main reason to extend the culling operation to these three villages is due to prevent the spread of the avian flu to these nearby districts.
It is just a preventive measure. The villages where culling will begin for 2,500 odd birds include Belghat, Rajangaon and Dhaamnia. Five Rapid Action Response Teams have been instituted for this purpose in Barwani district and all basic preparations were made for the culling and disposal operation. Commissioner of Veterinary Services, Dr Rajesh Rajora told the press the importance and the necessity to initiate culling operation in these villages. Dr Rajora said the culling and disposal work along with house-to-house mop up has been completed successfully in villages around Ichhapur from where positive samples were confirmed. As of now the disinfecting work is being carried on in 2,450 houses in these villages.About 8,250 birds were culled in the 23 villages near Ichhapur. He also mentioned 300 fresh samples from bordering districts of Maharashtra have been collected and sent to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) for testing. A total of 114 samples collected from Burhanpur border are under testing at the HSADL. Joint Director in-charge of HSADL Dr H K Pradhan said that the tests on the 114 samples were carried on and the positive samples are concentrated only to a very small area especially near the villages of Jalgaon, which are very close to Ichhapur. Dr Rajora also said that due to security reasons a total ban had been clamped on export and import of poultry and poultry products from Jalgaon and Betul into Barwani, Burhanpur, Khargone and Jhabua district.
