Bird flu control measures at four Kerala border check-posts in the district were inspected by the animal husbandry and veterinary services director on Friday. The director reportedly expressed satisfaction at the control measures being undertaken by the district authorities, and confirmed reports that bird flu has not yet spread from Karnataka to Kerala.
Though the district does not share a border with Karnataka, all vehicles bringing poultry related products into the district from Kerala have been thoroughly checked and disinfected before being allowed into Tamil Nadu since May 12. "We were taking prophylactic measures in case bird flu spreads to Kerala from Tamil Nadu," said joint director of animal husbandy, Dr V Muthugopalakrishnan.
"We check and disinfect both local vehicles delivering eggs and broiler chicken to Kerala. Those entering the state with turkey, duck, duck manure and chicken feed have stopped coming," he said. Around 10% of the 75 lakh broiler birds processed in a week in the state, are sold to Kerala.
On Friday morning, the state animal husbandry and veterinary services director, T Abraham, inspected the Walayar, Velandhavalam, Gopalapuram and Meenakshipuram check-posts in the district and the Kurichi Kottai check-post in Tirupur district. He also told officers that though no reports of the bird flu spreading to Kerala from Karnataka have been received yet, prophylactic measures should continue till further instructions.
This move comes after 23,000 chicken died at a poultry farm in Molkera village in Bidar district on May 7.
Officials from Karnataka's department of animal husbandry, who visited the farm, sent the samples to the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, which confirmed it as a case of bird flu or avian influenza-H5N1. Following this, the Karnataka department also issued an alert and informed the Central government.
Though the district does not share a border with Karnataka, all vehicles bringing poultry related products into the district from Kerala have been thoroughly checked and disinfected before being allowed into Tamil Nadu since May 12. "We were taking prophylactic measures in case bird flu spreads to Kerala from Tamil Nadu," said joint director of animal husbandy, Dr V Muthugopalakrishnan.
"We check and disinfect both local vehicles delivering eggs and broiler chicken to Kerala. Those entering the state with turkey, duck, duck manure and chicken feed have stopped coming," he said. Around 10% of the 75 lakh broiler birds processed in a week in the state, are sold to Kerala.
On Friday morning, the state animal husbandry and veterinary services director, T Abraham, inspected the Walayar, Velandhavalam, Gopalapuram and Meenakshipuram check-posts in the district and the Kurichi Kottai check-post in Tirupur district. He also told officers that though no reports of the bird flu spreading to Kerala from Karnataka have been received yet, prophylactic measures should continue till further instructions.
This move comes after 23,000 chicken died at a poultry farm in Molkera village in Bidar district on May 7.
Officials from Karnataka's department of animal husbandry, who visited the farm, sent the samples to the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases, which confirmed it as a case of bird flu or avian influenza-H5N1. Following this, the Karnataka department also issued an alert and informed the Central government.