Central team confirms bird-flu outbreak in Haryana

Tribune News Service
Panchkula, January 8 

A member of the central team visiting Barwala confirmed the presence of avian influenza in the region, identifying Kheri and Ghanauli as the two epicentres of the outbreak.

So far, 4.37 lakh birds have died of bird flu in Barwala, which is considered Asia's second-largest poultry belt with the daily production capacity of 1 crore eggs.

The team rushed to meet Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja at district headquarters in Sector 1 to plan the containment process. The culling of birds will be done within a 1-km radius of epicentres. The main challenge of authorities now is to ensure the virus is not transmitted to human beings.

Over 10,000 poultry workers have been employed in around 140 poultry units in Barwala belt.