Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Sept 8: Days after a bird flu outbreak was reported in Puri, avian influenza has now been detected in poultry farms in Kendrapada district, Odisha, leading authorities to initiate culling operations. Samples from several villages in Kendrapada were tested at the National Institute for High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal and were found positive for the H5N1 virus, confirming the presence of bird flu in the region.
The villages of Balia and Ender in Derabish block have been identified as epicenters of the avian influenza outbreak. The Fisheries and Animal Resources Department has instructed the district Collector to begin culling operations and implement sanitization measures within a one-kilometer radius of the infected zones to control and contain the H5N1 virus, in line with government guidelines.
In Ender, the villages of Nilakanthapur, Pachisimaniapatana, Bibhutipada, Satabatia, Tilanga, and Baghala are the primary infection centers. In Balia, the affected villages include Ario, Oukhanda, Mulanapatana, Jagulaipada, Deshpur, Chasakhanda, Golarhat, Dumukahata, Narua, and Satabatia.
The district administration has imposed a complete ban on the movement of live birds to and from the infected areas. Additionally, the disposal of dead birds and contaminated materials is being carried out following established protocols.
