Telangana on high alert in view of bird flu

Mobile teams have been asked to provide a regular update on the number of vehicles checked. file photo
| Photo Credit: DEEPAK KR

The Telangana Government has declared a ‘high alert’ in view of outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) or Bird Flu cases reported in the neighbouring Andhra Pradeshby setting up over two dozen border check posts to check vehicles transporting poultry birds into the State.

Though, no cases has been reported in Telangana so far, Animal Husbandry Department officials have been on their toes throughout the day and had activated all its district teams to be on round-the-clock vigil at the borders to check vehicles entering the State.

Additional Director of Animal Husbandry Ch. Malleswari said that as many as 24 check posts have been set up on the borders connecting towns with Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. “Our team of veterinary doctors and police are jointly mounting a vigil and checking poultry vehicles entering the State,” she said adding that a helpline has been set up for the benefit of the poultry breeders and farmers.

Vehicles entering Telangana at the inter-State borders at Kodad, Wadapally, near Nagarjunasagar, Pullur (near Kurnool) are being checked thoroughly and in case of any doubt, they are being turned back. “The vigil and vehicle checks will continue for the next 15 days,” said Dr. Malliswari and stated the mobile teams on the field have been asked to provide a regular update on the number of vehicles checked and asked to return.

There have been cases of some poultry farmers and others contacting the helpline numbers to complain about suspicious deaths of birds. “But, on testing the samples, we have ruled out any bird flu case from among them,” she said. There are 6,064 registered poultry farms in the State with 9.69 crore layer and broiler birds.

The department has already held talks with the poultry farmers, industry associations also also representatives of the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC). The representatives apparently informed that the sudden rise in temperatures had led to some deaths in the poultries and no bird flu cases has been detected so far.

Veterinary doctors too have been drafted for border checks and a senior Animal official mentioned that the poultry breeders should take adequate bio-security measures to avoid any outbreak of Bird Flu.

The Animal Husbandry helpline number is 040-23314876.