Mohali District Administration has completed the process of culling operation, that started on January 22, in the three infected farms of Dera Bassi, besides its mopping and sanitization.

“After three weeks of extensive curtailment measures, threat of spread of avian flu in the district has been successfully countered,” said Mohali Deputy Commissioner Girish Dayalan on Monday.

With the district administration on high alert ever since the bird flu confirmation was received on January 21, as many as 25 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) — comprising of five members each — were deployed for swift action.

“The culling in the infected farms — Alpha, Royal, and Evergreen — in Behera village of Dera Bassi commenced on January 22, and by January 29, nearly 84,505 birds from these farms were culled…Subsequently, 2,760 eggs and 1,28,850 kg feed was destroyed,” said Dayalan, adding that the same was followed by a period of mopping which lasted for nearly 10 days.

Thereafter, large scale sanitization measures were initiated, he said, adding that now the concerned farms have been finally issued the certificates of sanitization and the all the aspects of culling operation are complete.

Replying to a query regarding the district being free of avian influenza, Dayalan said: “As of now the threat is over but to officially declare the zone to be bird flu free still requires to wait for some time.”

“For the zone to be bird flu free, it is mandatory that after the culling, mopping and sanitization, the area in 10 km radius of the epicentre has to be monitored closely.

 It has to be divided into four zones, frequent sampling has to be conducted and fortnightly testing is to be carried out for two months from each zone.

If no more positive samples surface, it is only then that the area is declared bird flu free,” he said.

Meanwhile, formalin spray after every 15 days has to be done for three months in each of the farms where culling was undertaken, and then they can re-commence the business, said the Deputy Commissioner.