ALAPPUZHAL: Kuttanad is in the grip of bird flu as ducks die in hundreds, spreading panic among farmers and meat-eaters. Avian influenza, the virus causing bird flu, was confirmed by a sample test of the brain of dead ducks at the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
The district administration has decided to cull birds within 1-km radius of the area, where ducks had tested positive.
All birds, including ducks, pets and hens in the bird-flu reported areas, would be culled with the support of police.
“Health Department officials have been asked to do special checks in the district, particularly in duck farms, to contain the spread of the virus.
The Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) has already started distribution of preventive medicines”, said district collector N. Padmakumar after his meeting with AHD officials.
The duck brain sample was sent to NIHSAD by AHD district unit as ducks started perishing in hundreds, now estimated 20,000 ducks in upper Kuttanad in a week.
The farmers initially found some ducks dead in Ponge padam of Nedumudy panchayat. Later, more ducks showed similar symptoms.
The AHD had initially felt it was mere viral infection, a cyclic annual phenomenon in Kuttanad during September and November.
Mr Padmakumar said farmers would be instructed on symptoms of virus-affected ducks. Meanwhile, Mr B Rajasekaran, district president, Duck Farmers’ Society (CITU), has come out with a statement that farmers should be given adequate compensation since the bird flu was confirmed.
The compensation to farmers in Nedumudy, Champakulam, Purakkad, Thakazhi and Mullackal would be decided at the meeting convened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Tuesday, said Mr Padmakumar.
The first mass deaths of ducks (only ducks found dead so far) were reported in the first week of November. There are as many as 3-5lakh ducks in duck farmers in Alappuzha
