Bird flu strikes Chhattisgarh

Poultry birds of Chhattisgarh are exposed to high risk of bird flu, officials said here Monday.

Samples sent from Anjora Farm of Durg district and Jagdalpur Farm of Bastar district to Bhopal's High Security Animal Diseases Laboratory were found positive, officials said.

Animal Husbandry's Veterinary Department confirmed the presence of bird flu after getting the report from Bhopal Lab Monday afternoon.

In view of the severity of the disease, the department has imposed a ban on the sale and purchase of poultry birds from outside state for the next two months. A high level central team of experts is expected to visit the state within a week.

Around 450 birds in Durg district's Anjora Farm and over 2,500 birds in Jagdalpur Government Poultry farm died within a month, sending veterinary department officials in to a tizzy.