Bird flu hits Kottayam once again

Domestic birds to be culled in hotspots, outbreak in more places in Alappuzha

In a major blow to duck farmers ahead of the festive season, authorities have confirmed the presence of a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in three panchayats of Kottayam district.

District Collector P.K. Jayasree said the presence of H5N1 virus, a subtype of influenza A virus, was confirmed at Kattamada (wards 4, 5) in Vechoor panchayat, Vendakari Kizhakkechira in Kallara (ward 1), and the Kallungathara Ikkarasala paddy polders in Aymanam (ward 3) in tests conducted at the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal. An emergency meeting convened by the Collector on Tuesday decided to kick-start culling of all domestic birds in a km radius of the locations where the virus has been detected.

The culling operations will commence on Wednesday and 10 rapid response teams (RRTs) of the Animal Husbandry Department have been set up for the purpose. As per a primary assessment, 28,500 to 35,000 birds will have to be culled to keep the disease in check.