The avian influenza situation in Uttarakhand is completely under control and the department concerned has issued a high alert in this regard. While bird flu has been found only in wild birds so far with no such signs in the poultry sector, there is no need to be scared of bird flu though it is important to be aware of the situation and be alert. This was stated in a meeting chaired by the state minister for Animal Husbandry, Rekha Arya to review the situation here on Tuesday.
The minister said that so far no cases of bird flu have been seen in the poultry sector in the state. The state’s poultry sector is fully secure as of now. A state level committee and district level committees have been formed to ensure control of the bird flu situation. The additional chief secretary, agriculture is the head of the state level committee while the district magistrates are heads of the district level committees in their respective districts.
Officials informed in the meeting that the animal husbandry department personnel are consistently undertaking sampling of birds in the the state. The poultry sector is also being monitored properly even as a high alert has been issued. In case of any poultry or other bird developing any kind of sickness or infection, directions have been issued to issue a notice, getting a laboratory test conducted and ensuring proper distance from other birds. So far, no infection has been seen in any of the poultry farms in the state.
However, in case of any natural death of a hen in Garhwal or Kumaon region, samples have been sent to Bareilly for testing. So far, bird flu has been found only in wild birds in the state. A meeting has been called on January 14 with poultry sector representatives, scientists and subject experts regarding this. Advisory, pamphlets and social media should be used in order to raise public awareness on the subject. Further, personal protective equipment (PPE) kits should be provided to the departmental personnel required to handle dead birds. The demand for additional Rs 10 lakh under the fund concerned has been sought from the state government.
