THE STATE government has banned the entry of poultry stock from Maharashtra and Gujarat. The samples of the chickens that died in Bakewar town in Etawah district have been despatched to the Animal Disease Laboratory, Bhopal, to ascertain if the poultry stock was infected with avian influenza virus (bird flu).
A meeting of the Animal Husbandry Department officials was held on Sunday to review its preparation to check the outbreak of bird flu in the state.
Secretary, Animal Husbandry, SS Yadav said, “We discussed with our counterpart at the Centre about the measures required to check the spread of the killer disease. The officials informed us that transportation of chicken from Maharashtra and Gujarat to other states has been banned. As a precautionary measure, we have also imposed ban on the transportation of poultry stock from these states to UP,” he said.
Yadav said a task force was constituted to take preventive measures to check the outbreak of bird flu in the state. A control room has been established in the Animal Husbandry Department to keep watch on the cases of bird flu and collect information about the deaths of the poultry stock. The poultry farm owners have been directed to conduct vaccination of the poultry stock and keep their farms clean, he said.
Another Animal Husbandry Department official said ‘Rapid Response Team’ constituted by the Animal Husbandry Department would immediately plunge into action if the group deaths of chicken were reported. Protective clothes would be distributed among the veterinarians visiting the poultry farms.
{{/usCountry}}Another Animal Husbandry Department official said ‘Rapid Response Team’ constituted by the Animal Husbandry Department would immediately plunge into action if the group deaths of chicken were reported. Protective clothes would be distributed among the veterinarians visiting the poultry farms.
{{/usCountry}}Director Animal Husbandry Dr BP Singh rushed to Bakewar to make on-the-spot inspection. Earlier, Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of Etawah visited the poultry farm to collect the samples and inspect the farm. In his report, the CVO said the chickens were brought from Gurgaon. The chicken case was found filthy and even after deaths of the stock, farm owner had not alerted the veterinary officials.