Bird flu hits poultry farms in Telangana’s Rangareddy district

The Telengana government has geared up to cull 1.45 lakh birds across poultry farms in Rangareddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad, in a bid to check the outbreak of avian flu (bird flu) after tests confirmed 'positive strong' H5N1 infection.

The centre today said the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal has received 10 dead birds from Srinivas Reddy Poultry Farm, in Thorrur Village in Hayathnagar block in Rangareddy district of the state.

Five of the ten samples have been tested positive for H5N1 avian influenza virus, according to the director, NIHSAD, an official status report released by the central government today said.

The Telangana government was requested to send a report on the unusual mortality in birds at above farm and to take necessary measures as per Action Plan on Avian Influenza it added.

The centre has asked the state government to proceed with the action plan to control and contain avian influenza and immediately start control and containment operations at the epicenter so as to prevent further spread of the disease.

According to the state government, there are 18 villages and were about 1,45,315 birds in one km radius of the epicenter, of which 41,040 have died till Tuesday and the state government has already started control and containment operation and has culled 51,888 birds by Wednesday.