Avian influenza: culling of birds to begin in Kozhikode on March 21

Culling of 14,228 birds in areas affected by the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in Kozhikode district will start on Saturday (March 21).

This was declared by District Collector Snehil Kumar Singh after a review meeting held at the collectorate on Thursday (March 19). Mr. Singh said that domestic birds within a one-km radius of the identified epicentres in Panangad, Kakkodi, Olavanna and Perumanna grama panchayats and Nallalam area in the Kozhikode Corporation would be killed. The respective local bodies, the district administration, and the Department of Animal Husbandry would be part of the operation. In the second phase, the birds not included in the culling would be killed through a “mopping” exercise, and hidden or shifted birds would be eliminated through a “combing” operation. The authorities have also banned the sale and transport of domestic birds within a 10-km radius. Four rapid response teams each had been deployed in the affected areas.

So far, five samples sent to the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases have tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza. They were sent for testing after the death of a large number of birds was reported in the district. Right now, the infection has been confirmed only in birds. The district administration has set up a control room at 0495-2762050 to clear the people’s doubts.