Govt should allow vaccination to save the poultry industry: Suresh Chitturi

With bird flu set to cast a gloom on poultry industry in the country, an expert has urged the government to reconsider its decision on vaccination which is at present banned in the country. Monitoring bird flu is not easy and the vaccination of poultry birds is the best solution available, he said.

Hyderabad: As the bird flu is affecting the poultry industry across the country, an expert has suggested the government reconsider its decision on vaccination.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Suresh Chitturi, Chairman of International Egg Commission, urged the government to lift the ban on vaccination for poultry birds.

“Monitoring of bird flu that is spread through migratory birds is not easy. And, it is going to be extremely costly. So, in my view, the vaccination is the best solution and they should allow it immediately,” said Suresh Chitturi.

“In India, the disease (Avian Influenza) spreads mainly by migratory birds coming into India during winter months i.e. from September – October to February – March,” said a press release from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying on Wednesday.

So far, the flu got detected at 12 epicentres in four States – Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala, added the release.

On being asked why the government is hesitant about vaccination, he said, “I think the problem lies in the uninformed bureaucrats who are still stuck in the old ways of thinking.”

Citing examples of our neighbouring countries that allowed vaccination, Suresh Chitturi said it will benefit the small scale farmers the most.

“China is doing it, Thailand is doing it...most of the countries are doing it. Even our neighbour Bangladesh is doing it,” he said.

Due to recurrent flus, small scale farmers are affected the most. A vaccine may cost 50 or 70 paise, but if a farmer loses the farm, his livelihood is gone, he added.

“For a very big country as well as industry like ours, I think it's not smart for us to not vaccinate,” Suresh Chitturi concluded.

Read: Bird Flu Scare: India staring at another virus attack?