Bird flu outbreak in Tamil Nadu triggers panic in Andhra Pradesh

The outbreak of bird flu in neighbouring Tamil Nadu has triggered panic in Andhra Pradesh over its possible spread.

With the Health Department authorities issuing an advisory after confirming avian influenza in dead crows in Chennai, surveillance has been stepped up in Andhra Pradesh to prevent the out outbreak of the virus in the State.

Officials, however, say that there are no bird flu cases in Andhra Pradesh and there is no need to panic. Poultry and fish producers have been advised to initiate bio-security measures as a precaution, they say.

Poultry farmers fear the possibility of the spread of H5N1 virus as many migratory birds visit Andhra Pradesh every year.

More than 10 lakh migratory birds breed and brood in Pulicat Lake and in Coringa, Kolleru, Nelapattu, Uppalapadu, Telineelapuram, Telukunchi and other bird sanctuaries and the wetlands in Andhra Pradesh every year, they say.

“Birds fly from one place to another, carry the remnants of dead birds, and drop them in poultries, lakes and sanctuaries, causing a possible spread of the virus,” an Animal Husbandry Department official told The Hindu.

“Crows, egrets, pelicans, herons and other birds travel between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and other States. They arrange nests in mango and coconut orchards, and visit poultries. We have arranged a fence and biosecurity around our poultry,” says a farmer, Venkateswara Rao, of Krishna district.