Police and Animal Husbandry Department personnel at a check-post set up near Athani on the Karnataka-Maharashtra border to screen for bird flu.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
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.
Officials have been asked to keep collecting swab samples from time to time to detect any possibility of spread of the disease. They have to collect two environmental samples, two serum samples, two cloacal samples and two tracheal samples. They should be collected from each taluk every Monday, and submitted to the Animal Disease Investigation Laboratory and Information Centre in Belagavi. So far, 363 serum, 363 cloacal, 363 tracheal and 138 environmental samples have been submitted to the Animal Disease Investigation Laboratory from the district.
One Nodal Officer and one Technical Assistant have been appointed at the district level for the avian influenza control programme. As many as 15 Veterinary Officers have been appointed as Nodal Officers. A Rapid Action Team (RAT) has been formed for field operations at the taluk level. A RAT will consist of one qualified veterinary officer, one support staff and two assistants. The members of the task force have been informed in a notification by the Deputy Director, animal husbandry, about the precautionary measures to be taken in case of avian influenza outbreak.
Steps have been taken to organise information workshops for poultry farmers and poultry entrepreneurs on prevention of avian influenza.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan said that the district is ready to contain the disease. ‘”All precautionary measures have been taken in collaboration with the district administration, district animal husbandry and veterinary services departments, health and family welfare department, and district forest department to prevent an outbreak in the district of Belagavi. Apart from all this, an integrated information and communication programme is also being launched.
“We have had reports of outbreaks in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. We have initiated precautionary measures. We held meetings in Belagavi with officers of the district administration, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Department, Health and Family Welfare Department and Forest Departments, and all kinds of precautionary measures have been taken to prevent the outbreak,” he said.
“As many as 33 Rapid Action Force (RAF) teams have been formed for field operations. Personnel have been deployed at seven check posts. Chicken, eggs, chicken meat and chicken by-products coming from Maharashtra and Goa are being inspected at the check posts. The district administration has taken steps to stockpile disinfectants, PPE kits, JCBs, fogging machines, gunny bags and other necessary materials to prevent an outbreak, and safely dispose off the dead chicken,’‘ Mr Roshan said.
Rahul Shindhe, zilla panchayat Chief executive Officer, said that a series of workshops were being organised to create awareness among officials, farmers and the general public. “Till now, there have not been any cases of avian influenza n the district. All efforts will be made to stop its transition from birds to humans. However, egg and chicken users need not worry. They should be used after proper cooking and boiling at temperatures above 70 degree Celsius. People are advised to contact the nearest veterinarian in case of abnormal deaths of chickens and other birds in the district,” he said.
Published – February 27, 2025 09:38 am IST
