11,200 birds culled at SAS Nagar farm

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, January 22

Punjab Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan today directed the Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries departments to keep a strict vigil to curb the spread of avian influenza.

The directions came after a suspected case of bird flu was reported at Evergreen Poultry Farm of Behra village in SAS Nagar district.

As many as 11,200 infected birds were culled by 25 teams of the Animal Husbandry Department on the first day of the drive at Alpha Poultry Farm in the village today. Culling would begin at Royal Poultry Farm in the same village in the coming days.

Reviewing the situation, the Chief Secretary asked the Animal Husbandry department to ensure proper disposal of carcass and further increase surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos and poultry farms.

After receiving the report of a suspected case from the Northern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (NRDDL), Jalandhar, Vijay Kumar Janjua, Additional Chief Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Fisheries, said the department had sent the sample to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, for confirmation.

Urging people to follow the guidelines issued by the Animal Husbandry Department, the Chief Secretary said chicken and other poultry products were safe to consume when cooked properly.