India begins culling of 33,000 birds to control avian flu

India has confirmed a bird flu outbreak at the Central Poultry Development Organisation (CPDO) at Hesaraghatta, Karnataka state, and has initiated the culling of 33,000 birds in order to control the spread of the flu.

The move comes after tests revealed that 206 chickens and 17 ducks which died at CPDO premises were infected with avian flu, also known as bird flu, which is caused by the avian influenza (H5N1) virus.

In response, the animal husbandry department has initiated the culling of birds – 19,235 chickens, 13,673 ducks and 369 emus – present on the CPDO premises and within a 1km radius.

In addition, the department has begun sanitisation of its turkey, duck, emu and chicken units.

Animal husbandry department principal secretary Aravind Jannu said that about 80 samples from villages around CPDO were sent for tests to a high-security animal disease laboratory in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.

"No further unnatural deaths of birds have been reported from this zone," Jannu added.

On 25 October, an action plan involving the sanitisation of sheds was launched at CPDO after tests revealed that 3,481 turkeys had died of avian flu at its premises.

Following this, ten rapid response teams were appointed to carry out surveillance work in the 10km zone near CPDO, which includes nearly 68 villages that house almost 150,000 birds.

The forest department has been asked to keep a surveillance of stray, wild and migratory birds.

Meanwhile, in view of the outbreak, Belarus has temporarily banned the import of poultry products from India, including live poultry, hatching eggs as well as second-hand equipment for poultry farms.

Bird flu can lead to fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis, and, in severe cases, breathing problems and pneumonia.