Culling tally reaches 1,37,944; mass fowl deaths reported at Khurai farm

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 30: Even as culling of birds continued for a fifth day today in the greater Imphal area, another case of mass sickness and deaths of chickens has been reported at a farm at Khurai.

According to sources in the veterinary department, the unusual sickness and deaths of the birds, with what are described as bird flu symptoms, had taken place a few days back, but went unreported at the time, although the farm had been covered in the culling operations. Some of the sick birds had in fact been culled unknowingly.

The sources said after the farm owners finally reported the matter, veterinary teams have collected faecal samples of the dead birds and have sent the same for verification.

In the meantime, culling operations continued apace today, with a total of 11,350 birds culled in 34 localities in both Imphal East and Imphal West district today.

Since the start of culling operations on July 26, a total of 1,37,944 birds including chickens, ducks and other domesticated birds have been culled, while 20249 eggs and 11615 kgs of poultry feeds have been disposed off safely till today, veterinary department sources said.

Altogether 16 ducks imported from Vietnam reared at the Imphal Raj Bhavan today were also culled by a veterinary RRT today. The state governor`s residence falls within the culling zone.

Veterinary officials also said that the culling operations within the core 5 km radius zone was planned to be completed by today, but due to the bird population turning out to be well in excess of the official estimates, the operations will be continuing for the time being.

With various local NGOs and local organisations cooperating actively to the bird culling drive, the department has also constituted mobile teams to collect and dispose of birds, including broilers, local hens and ducks which were kept for culling after collecting from the individual households. Above 2,000 birds mainly adult broilers and ducks have been culled in this manner, the sources disclosed.

More than 900 birds which have been seized by public and police in the last three days at various places after being smuggled out from the core zone have also been culled.

It is meanwhile reported that some 40 chickens culled by an RRT at Kongpal Mutum Leikai were stolen by unidentified persons while being kept in a gunny sack for disposal this afternoon.

In another development, some 250 poultry farmers who have been hardest hit due to the steps taken up for containment of bird flu have banded together in an association called the Manipur Poultry Farmers and Traders` Association to protect their interests.

Since most of the poultry farmers have set up their farms with the help of bank loans, one of the issues of major concern to them is how the current situation will affect their loan status, a representative of the association said.

In the meantime, some chicken centres in the Imphal area have converted themselves to fish centres, even as the price of fish has been rising steadily over the past few days.


Source: Kangla Online