Samples from Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari poultry farm test positive for bird flu

RAJAHMUNDRY: The samples of dead fowls from a poultry farm in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, which were sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal for testing, have returned positive for bird flu.
The fowl deaths started on Jan 13 at three places in Godavari region of the state, with over 5 lakh poultry layers perishing to the virus in the last four weeks.

The samples which tested positive for the avian influenza (H5N1) were from taken from a farm at Kanuru Agraharam in Peravali mandal of the district.
East Godavari animal husbandry officer T Srinivasa Rao said after 61,000 fowls died in one go at the poultry farm, the samples were collected and sent to the Bhopal-based lab. NIHSAD, which comes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, is a premier institute for research on exotic and emerging pathogens of animals.
District medical and health officer Venkateswara Rao said health officials have been deputed to screen people living within 10 kilometre radius of Kanuru, which has been declared as surveillance zone. "We are conducting screening tests on people working in poultry farms and chicken shops. No signs of bird flu symptoms have been found in any human in the district so far," he said.
Collector tells people in Kanuru to be cautious
East Godavari district collector P Prasanthi has warned people living in the surveillance zone to be cautious and inform authorities if they witness any suspicious symptoms or come across any bird deaths.
"The area within one kilometre radius of the Kanuru has been declared as red zone. Police have been asked to enforce section 133 and 144 in this limit. Anti-virus medicines have been kept ready for people reporting any virus symptoms," she said.
Over 75 percent of birds and eggs from poultries in the area have been culled and buried, the collector added.
"We have asked transport dept officials to get information about the places where the birds were transported from poultries in Kanuru in the last five-six days.
The district medical and health officer has been directed to depute health officials to check every house within the 10 km radius of Kanuru of any bird flu symptoms. Officials have been told to close all chicken shops in the area and provide medical help to shop workers if required," the East Godavari district collector said, adding that she has asked for sodium chloride to be sprayed in every house in all mandals in the district.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the samples testing positive for bird flu, municipal authorities of Rajahmundry, Kovvur, and Nidadavole have been directed to take precautionary steps.
Poultry owners have been told not to fling dead fowls in canals or water bodies as the virus can spread through water.
Rapid response teams equipped with sanitising materials and PPEs are also being kept ready.