Decision to ban the transportation was taken at an emergency meeting by CM O. Panneerselvam
A worker spraying disinfectant on birds at a poultry farm (Photo:DC)
Chennai: Chicken, ducks and eggs from Kerala will not be allowed to enter Tamil Nadu following test results proving that about 17,000 ducks had died of bird flu in Alapuzha district of Kerala “during the last few days”, according to an official press release Wednesday.The decision to ban the transportation of the birds and eggs was taken at an emergency meeting chaired by chief minister O. Panneerselvam at the secretariat here.
The CM convened the meeting following information that the Central government had confirmed on Tuesday, through lab tests on blood samples from the ducks, that the birds had died of avian influenza.
It was also decided at the meeting that the border check-posts should be alert and halt any transportation of the birds and eggs from Kerala. Also, special teams from the state animal husbandry department would immediately arrange for spraying disinfectants on all vehicles coming from the neighbouring state.
“Eight hundred teams will be formed to carry out the preventive measures in all the districts in Tamil Nadu, especially those in the border areas. The teams will be provided with personal protective equipment for this task”, said the official release.
It said forest rangers would closely monitor the migratory birds arriving at the state’s sanctuaries. Also, the railway authorities have been told to disinfect the trains coming from Kerala and also to keep close watch to prevent transportation of poultry from that state, it said.
A 24-hour control room has been set up at the Central Referral Laboratory (CRL) at Saidapet (phone: 044- 24339097/ 9445032504) Animal husbandry minister T.K.M. Chinnayya, health minister Dr C.Vijayabaskar, animal husband secretary Dr S Vijayakumar, health secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan, public health director Dr K Kolandaisamy, besides some others, attended the meeting.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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