Bhubaneswar: The en masse deaths of chickens at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) here triggered panic, with the state's health department suspecting the cause to be an outbreak of bird flu.
According to sources, Bhopal-based High-Security Animal Diseases Laboratory (HSADL) has reportedly confirmed the avian influenza virus after testing the blood samples of dead chickens at the Poultry Science Department of OUAT.
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A preliminary follow up by ETV Bharat revealed that, after the detection of the positive H5N1 virus in chickens, OUAT's authorities have allegedly begun burying the virus affected chickens inside the premises.
The sources also said that, following the detection of bird flu in the OUAT premises, there was a meeting held between varsity authorities and the State Secretary of the Department of Health.
However, the university authorities refused to comment on the issue and reportedly warned the media personnel from entering the area, terming it as 'prohibited'.
"We are working as per the instructions of the higher authorities," they added.
More details regarding the incident are yet to be ascertained.
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