Steps initiated in Belagavi to contain bird flu following outbreak in Latur

Staff have been deployed to work round-the-clock in three shifts. Chicken, eggs, chicken meat and chicken by-products coming from Maharashtra and Goa are being inspected at check posts.

The Belagavi district administration has initiated a series of measures to contain H5N1 Avian influenza or Bird Flu.

Following an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu at Udayagiri in Latur district of neighbouring Maharashtra, the Belagavi district administration has begun screening of samples in individual and company farms, and setting up check posts at the inter-State border.

According to the 20th livestock census, there are 26.40 lakh broilers, or egg laying chicken, in Belagavi district.

As per the safety protocol issued by the Union Government, seven check posts have already been set up on the borders of Maharashtra and Goa. They are at Kottalagi and Kagwada in Athani taluk, Koganolli in Nippani taluk, Sankeshwar in Hukkeri taluk, Hindalaga in Belgaum taluk, Examba in Chikkodi taluk, and Kanakumbi in Khanapur taluk. These are supervised by officials of the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Departments.

Staff have been deployed to work round-the-clock in three shifts. Chicken, eggs, chicken meat and chicken by-products coming from Maharashtra and Goa are being inspected at these check posts.

Migratory birds and other birds that gather in the riverside villages of all the blocks of the district and in the areas surrounding small and large water bodies are being closely monitored.

In case of abnormal death of birds in such places, the body of the dead bird is to be sent to the southern regional disease diagnostic laboratory in Bengaluru for tests.