Ban on entry of poultry extended for a week

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 18

The government has temporarily extended the ban on entry of poultry and poultry products into the state from the neighbouring states for another one week, said Animal Husbandry Minister Virender Kanwar here.

Kanwar said a notification was issued by the government today. During the past few days, incidents of dumping of dead poultry were witnessed in the border areas of the state.

Thereafter, the state government took stock of the situation and collected samples of these dead birds, disposed these as per protocol and sanitized the area. NIHSAD Lab, Bhopal, has confirmed avian influenza-H5N8 in the dumped birds.

The minister said mortality in migratory birds was witnessing a declining trend as on January 17 only 21 migratory birds died in the Pong Dam wetland area.

Meanwhile, Forest, Youth Services and Sports Minister Rakesh Pathania has directed officers to continue maintaining a strict vigil and active surveillance on all winter habitats of migratory birds in the state and deal with any unusual mortality in wild birds as per protocols.

Reviewing the measures being undertaken by the wildlife wing of the forest department to contain avian influenza outbreak in the Pong Dam lake wildlife sanctuary today, he said that 10 rapid response teams (RRTs) of the wildlife wing would continue to work in the wetland for collection and safe disposal of dead birds as per protocol till no mortality is recorded.

He said the mortality count till date in the Pong Dam lake wildlife sanctuary was 4,936. He also advised the personnel involved in these operations to ensure their protection.