Raipur: At least 4,400 chickens have died following a bird flu outbreak in Chhattisgarh at a state-run poultry farm in Bilaspur district, prompting authorities to intensify surveillance within a 10-kilometre radius, officials said.
Dr. GS Tanwar, Joint Director of the Veterinary Department, confirmed that around 4,400 of the 5,037 chickens housed at the government poultry farm in the Koni area succumbed to the viral infection between March 19 and 24.
Samples from the deceased birds were sent to laboratories in Bhopal and Pune. The Bhopal lab confirmed the presence of avian influenza in the dead chickens, marking a severe bird flu outbreak in Chhattisgarh at the facility.
Infected and Surveillance Zones Declared to Contain Bird Flu Outbreak in Chhattisgarh
Following confirmation, District Collector Sanjay Agrawal issued immediate directives under the Revised Action Plan for Prevention and Containment of Avian Influenza (2021). A one-kilometre radius around the farm has been declared an ‘infected zone,’ while a 10-kilometre radius is designated as a ‘surveillance zone’ to contain the bird flu outbreak in Chhattisgarh.
Under the protocol, all poultry birds, feed, and eggs within the infected zone will be culled, and their movement strictly prohibited. Compensation will be provided by the Animal Husbandry Department to poultry owners. After culling, the farm will be sealed.
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Rapid Response Teams are carrying out culling, safe disposal, surveillance, and sanitisation in the affected area. Warning signboards are installed, and monitoring of poultry movement and sales is being enforced. The operation is coordinated with revenue, police, urban administration, and panchayat departments to contain the bird flu outbreak in Chhattisgarh.
Health monitoring of poultry farm workers is also underway. Anyone showing symptoms will be tested, and antiviral medications provided if necessary. Authorities are also keeping a close watch on poultry sale centres across the district.
The district magistrate urged the public not to pay attention to rumours and to cooperate with authorities while staying vigilant. So far, no human infections have been reported.
Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a viral infection that spreads among birds and some mammals. Officials emphasized that containment and biosecurity measures are being strictly enforced to prevent further spread of the bird flu outbreak in Chhattisgarh.