Alappuzha: As the Avian flu caused by H5N8 strain was declared as a state calamity in Kerala, culling of birds in the affected areas to check the spread of the virus to other regions, has begun here on Tuesday. The virus was confirmed in Kottayam and Alappuzha districts on Monday.
Kerala State Health Department has issued alert in the state. District administrations have constituted Rapid Response Teams in both Kottayam and Alappuzha to cull the birds within one square kilometre of the areas where the viral infection was detected and thereby prevent any further spread of the H5N8 variant of the Avian flu virus.
After the culling process, the team would also carry out disinfection measures as a precaution. In Alappuzha district, the birds in the Upper Kuttanad areas including Nedumudi, Thakazhi, Pallippadu and Karuvatta would be culled. In Kottayam, the birds in a farm in Neendoor where the Avian flu was detected, other birds and poultry within one-kilometre radius would be culled.
Rapid Response Teams, that have been constituted including the officials with the State Departments of Animal Husbandry, Health and Revenue and Local Self Governance institutions and sanitation workers, have reached out to every affected area and have started culling the poultry and other birds.
The team would reach out to every farm in the impacted area, collect the birds in sacks and would cull them at an isolated place in the region. In each region, less populated areas have been identified by the respective panchayaths for the process of culling. The team would collectively cull the birds at these places using firewood, diesel and sugar.
The Rapid Response Team members would wear PPE kits and carry out the process following the ‘culling protocol’ recommended by the Health Department.
As of now, the bird flu infection has been confirmed in four panchayaths in Alappuzha. The Rapid Response Team has split into smaller groups and has been carrying out preventive measures. Culling would progress for two days after which the disinfection process would be carried out.
About 50000 birds are estimated to be culled in this manner altogether in the detected regions, according to the officials of the Animal Husbandry department.
Six persons have been deployed in the farm where the flu was confirmed at Neendoor and two others outside the farm in Kottayam district for the culling procedure. As per the data, 2700 ducklings in the Neendoor farm and about 300 other birds in the locality are to be culled in Kottayam.
Anil Ummen, Additional District Magistrate and Dr Shaji Panikkassery, in charge of the District Officer, Animal Husbandry department led the team’s culling process in Kottayam district.
Also read: Kerala declares H5N8 strain of Avian flu a state calamity
