Bird flu hits Bidar: 20,000 chickens die in one day

It was on May 5 when 20,000 chickens died in a poultry farm as bird flu was reported in Malkera Village in Humnabad taluk of Bidar district.

Experts were worried of the fact that the disease might have spread in the neighbouring areas which got a confirmation of the presence of H5N1 virus by National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), after a test on samples was conducted.

Also, the district governance has ordered an immediate elimination of 1.5 lakh chickens near the infected farm, which was owned by a farmer Ramesh Gupta.

A. Manju, Minister for Animal Husbandry, has ordered to ban on chicken and chicken products in the village.

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services has opened a control room in Hubbli, a neighbouring city of Bidar.

Also, the poultry farms were alerted and ordered to provide precautionary measures to the labourers and emergency mobile numbers of medical officers were also provided.

The district governance has decided to give compensation to the farmers whose farms were affected by H5NI flu and the medicines will also be provided free of cost.

More than 400 people had died in Asia, Europe and Africa during 2005-2006 when these areas were hit by the bird flu.

• bird flu
• Chicken