Bird flu in Manipur, culling of fowl starts

Bird flu or avian influenza has resurfaced in northeastern state of Manipur and the culling of poultry fowl began on Monday, official said.

Manipur Chief Secretary P.C. Lawmkunga told reporters: "Samples of sick poultry birds from the ICAR (Indian Council of Agriculture Research) poultry unit at Lamphelpat were found to contain H5 strain of avian influenza virus."

He said the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases has confirmed the outbreak of Avian Influenza at the poultry unit of ICAR.

"Culling of birds at the ICAR farm started today (Monday)," said Lawmkunga, adding that the culling of poultry birds at the farm would continue for the next few days.

He said the birds of adjoining villages within a radius of 10 km, which have been declared as an infected and surveillance zone, would be culled in the next few days.

The fowl owners will be adequately compensated, the chief secretary announced. In addition to culling of birds, huge quantities of eggs and feed material would also be destroyed.

The state government issued a notification banning movement, transportation and sale of poultry birds, including eggs, within the surveillance zone.

Manipur, bordering Myanmar, has been affected by bird flu earlier too.