Telangana swings into action to tackle bird flu

Hyderabad: The Telangana Animal Husbandry department has stepped up efforts and activated all state and district officials in view of bird flu impact in nearly six states, including Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala and Gujarat. Instructions have been given to officials and field staff to be in constant touch with the poultry industry and farmers in their areas and also collect random serum and blood samples of chicken for tests more regularly in view of the prevailing situation across the country.

The Veterinary Biological and Research Institute (VBRI) of the AH wing will test the samples for the presence of the two deadly strains of bird flu-H5N1 and H5N8- that killed scores of birds in various states in the last few days. 

Dr S Shakeel, Assistant Director, AH, said that the next few weeks this winter are going to be very crucial. He said that the Telangana poultry industry, which is one of the largest in the country, is leaps and bounds ahead of others in terms of bio-security measures and facilities which are of immense help to reduce disease hazards and improve health and productivity of birds.

The poultry industry here already follows bio-security measures and more focus will be on for the next few weeks, he said. Chevella MP and president of Telangana Poultry Breeders' Association Ranjith Reddy said that they have bio-safety measures in place to face the present challenge. States like UP, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi and West Bengal procure chicken and eggs from Telangana because of the safest methods we employ here. "As of now there is no impact on the Telangana poultry industry with the fresh developments," he said.