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Authorities in Kerala yesterday ordered culling of ducks and chickens after lab tests found presence of bird flu strains amid protests. A high alert was also sounded in three central Kerala districts. |
Around 17,000 ducks have reportedly died in the popular backwater destination of Kuttanad spread across Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts in recent days.
A detailed report is awaited from the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases of Indian Council of Agricultural Research in Bhopal. A team of experts from the National Centre for Disease Control is also arriving in the state to take stock of the situation.
Oommen Chandy, the state’s chief minister, held a high-level meeting of his ministers and officials yesterday morning and reviewed the situation.
He announced a compensation of Rs150 for each bird to be culled, amid protest from the farmers. The chicks less than two months old will get only half the amount.
K P Mohanan, the minister in charge of animal husbandry, said the H5 Avian Influenza virus had been confirmed in samples sent for lab tests. But no case of the virus transmitted to humans was reported so far.
“It is estimated that around 150,000 domestic ducks and a few chickens are to be culled and burnt in the affected areas. The sale of duck meat and eggs has also been banned,” he said after the meeting.
The wetland ecosystem of Kuttanad on India’s west coast is a favourite haunt of migratory birds from across the seas during this season. The minister said the winged visitors could have brought the virus here.
The authorities have ordered temporary closure of Kumarakom bird sanctuary.
The paddy fields of Kuttanad, also known as the rice bowl of Kerala situated below the sea level, turn into rearing grounds for ducks after the harvest.
The cull was ordered within the 1km radius of all affected villages, including badly hit Purakkad, Thalavady and Kainakary villages in Alappuzha and Aymanam in Kottayam. Preventive measures are taken in areas around 10km in radius where people are warned against eating poultry and eggs.
Duck meat is a delicacy popular with the tourists in the region. Several farmers are engaged in rearing ducks every year from September-October, expecting brisk business during the Christmas.
“We have also warned people against venturing out into the areas where culling takes place without masks and other protective gears,” he said. “The situation is serious but not alarming”.
However, the officials could not begin culling as the farmers took to the streets demanding increased compensation. They also blocked the Alappuzha-Changanassery road in protest.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, Health Minister V S Sivakumar and Mohanan reached Alappuzha while Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash arrived in Pathanamthitta and Forest minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan in Kottayam to pacify the farmers.
The newly-formed Rapid Response Team comprising different government departments is coordinating the efforts.
Officials have also launched a door-to-door awareness campaign against the H5 avian influenza virus, including distribution of a leaflet detailing the protocol to be maintained.
Emergency call centres have also been opened in all the three districts. Border check posts have been alerted against transporting poultry into other states.
V S Sivakumar, the minister for health, said stocks of preventive medicines were rushed to the region from the neighbouring districts.
Protective gears such as gloves, safety glasses, shoes, ear plugs, muffs, hard hats, respirators, overalls, vests and full body suits were also supplied.
More materials are awaited to arrive from other states. Scores of officials and health volunteers were deployed in the affected areas for containment of the outbreak.
“People in close contact could contract the virus. We have also placed orders for 50,000 more bird flu control kits from manufacturers in other states,” he said. “No other state has reported any case of bird flu so far this season”.
Dr Sreejith N Kumar, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Kerala, said doctors were put on alert about the spread virus.
V Brahmanandan, director of animal husbandry in charge, said it can affect all types of birds including hens, quail, turkey and guinea fowl.
Officials have alerted farmers on modes of killing the ducks and scientifically burying their carcasses, which cannot be left out in the wetland or water.
Two senior scientists from the Southern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Bangalore also attended the meeting and headed for affected areas.
The drug, Oseltamivir, is being administered to those responsible for the culling of the affected birds and others who came in contact with them.
