For the first time in the history of Karnataka the largest number of poultry birds have been culled after a bird flu cases surfaced in the northern district of Bidar. However, officials have assured that people can fearlessly enjoy their daily omlette and butter chicken.
Over 1.3 lakh birds from a private farm in Humnabad taluk in the district have been culled over the last two days after about 23,000 birds died of flu earlier this month.
PS Mahesh, Director of Central Poultry Development Organisation told The News Minute that the flu will not spread outside the farm as they had sprayed disinfectant on the birds in other farms in Bidar.
Vehicular and human movement, especially around the infected farm, has been put on hold for over a week within 10 km radius of the farm, he says.
Mahesh said that as expected there is a bit of scare in other parts of the state.
“The affected farm lost over Rs 6.5 crores worth of chickens because of the scare. Other farms in pockets of Karnataka including Bengaluru are also facing some reduction in demand,” said Mahesh.
However, Mahesh said that there was no need to worry because even the people working the farms have tested negative for the virus and that since the virus is sensitive to temperature it would die when the meat or egg is boiled.
Explaining further, Dr. HN Nagabhushan, general secretary of the Karnataka Poultry Farmers’ and Breeders’ Association said, “Bird flu is generally caused by a migratory bird carrying the flu virus. Since this not a season for migration, people in cities down south don’t need to worry.”
However, he adds that there are more bird flu cases in summer because since the availability of water and food for the birds is less, and hence they are less immune to these flu viruses.
Asked about where the chicken to Bengaluru come from, he said that they are transported from farms within 40 km radius of the city, where they are locally bred.
Nagabhushan adds that they have issued directives to all poultry farm owners in the state to vaccinate and disinfect their farms.