Kozhikode (Kerala):
Bird flu has been detected in two areas of Kozhikode in Kerala but two state ministers today said that there was no need to panic. Two poultry farms in and around Kozhikode Municipal Corporation limits reported this incident and civic authorities will now cull the poultry in affected areas.
K. Raju, Minister for State Forest and Animal Husbandry said that tests were done two days back and the samples were sent to a laboratory in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. “We have no authority under the rules to make such announcements. The samples were send to the Bhopal lab, which has now confirmed the presence of bird flu in two areas of Kozhikode district. All precautions to tackle the situation have been taken and there is no need to worry,” the minister was quoted as having said.
State Health Minister K.K. Shailaja meanwhile downplayed the issue and said that it was quite natural during this season and there is no need to worry. She said that authorities will do the culling which will control its spread. Kozhikode district collector Sambhasiva Rao will supervise the culling of birds within one square kilometre in the affected areas. Poultry in the affected areas will also be culled and 25 special teams have been formed for the purpose, Rao said explaining the measures that he is going to take to contain the spread of bird flu.
