Central team to assess Odisha bird flu outbreak

Bhubaneswar, Sept 2: In response to the recent bird flu outbreak in Odisha, a Central team is set to visit the state on September 4th and 5th to evaluate the situation. This was disclosed during a high-level review meeting held via video conference on Monday.

The meeting, as per an official press release, was attended by Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Secretary of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Government of India, Alaka Upadhyay, and senior officials from departments such as Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Health & Family Welfare, and Fisheries & Animal Resources Development. Representatives from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation and district collectors from Puri, Kendrapada, and Khordha were also present.

Avian Influenza has been confirmed in four locations within Puri district: Pipili, Satyabadi, Nimapada, and Delanga blocks. Control and containment measures are being carried out following the Government of India’s Action Plan. Operations in Pipili and Satyabadi have been completed, while efforts are ongoing in Delanga and Nimapada.

A total of 51 Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) are engaged in culling, disposing of birds, and sanitizing the affected areas. So far, 35,329 birds, 84 eggs, and 15,380 kg of poultry feed have been destroyed. The state has provided compensation totaling Rs 10,94,572 to affected farmers for their losses.

Chief Secretary Ahuja has instructed an increase in public awareness campaigns and clinical surveillance in surrounding areas, along with measures to prevent the entry of poultry and related products into the affected zones. A sampling plan is also being developed for collecting serum samples, which will be sent to designated laboratories for ongoing monitoring. Additionally, burial sites are to be secured, mapped, and uploaded to an official portal.

Alaka Upadhyay, Secretary of DAHD, reassured the state of full support from the central government and highlighted the need for registering and mapping all commercial poultry farms. The Government of India also praised the Odisha government for its prompt compensation to poultry farmers.