Bird flu awareness campaign launched around Bhitarkanika park

With the arrival of migratory birds in the wetland spots of the Bhitarkanika national park in Kendrapara district, authorities have launched awareness campaign among people on bird flu.
Forest and veterinary officials distributed leaflets and booklets among villagers near the park to create awareness about bird flu, Rabindra Kumar Sahoo, Chief District Veterinary Officer said today.
"Rapid Response Team (RRT) has been formed in all nine blocks of the district. Veterinary Assistant Surgeon, two livestock inspectors, one Gomitra, Zilla Parisada members and social workers are members of each RRT. We have vaccinated 15,000 poultries including chicks in the district within a month," he said.

Sahoo said forest and veterinary officials were keeping watch on migratory birds specially on bar-headed geese, Bramihin duck, Plovers, Pintails as they were prone to carry H5NI strain of avian influenza. So far no sick bird was detected.
The vigil would be greater on Great Cormorant species which were found making yearly visits to this wetland from central Asian countries.
Forest officials would conduct bird census from December 24 to January 8 in Bhitarkanika park and during the process officials would be posted to detect sick birds, he said.