(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) State government raises compensation to duck farmers.
Trivandrum: Massive culling of poultry affected by avian influenza began in the southern Indian state of Kerala on Wednesday after the state government raised the compensation to the duck farmers.
After reviewing the situation at its meeting in the morning the state cabinet decided to increase the damages for ducks aged above 60 days from Rs150 sanctioned earlier to Rs200 and for those aged below 60 days from Rs75 to Rs100. The cabinet has also sanctioned an initial sum of Rs10 million for the operation.
The farmers who staged protests against the inadequate compensation themselves came forward to burn the dead birds and cull the affected ones at Purakkad village in Aleppey district. Members of the Rapid Response Teams (RST) and officials from the veterinary and animal husbandry department joined the farmers with protective gears later.
The birds in 1 km radius of epicenters are proposed to be culled. According to a report sent by the state to the federal government there are 228807 birds in 1 km radius of the epicenters in Aleppey district and 13000 birds in 1km radius of epicenter in Kottayam.
Apart from this there are another 1759123 birds in surveillance zone (2-10 kms area) in Aleppey and 240696 birds in surveillance zone in Kottayam. According to the report the mortality till date is 15500 birds.
The samples of the dead birds screened at the High Security Animal Disease (HSAD) Laboratory Bhopal have been found positive for Avian Influenza in RT-PCR and Real time RT-PCR for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 AIV.
The state government has started the control and containment operation as per Action Plan on Prevention Control and Containment of Avian Influenza which was revised in 2012.
The culling operation has commenced at Purakkad and Kaimanam in Kottayam. The culling may take three to seven days. Teams have also been deployed in other places in Aleppey Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts where the disease has been confirmed for the task.
Meanwhile death of 25 ducks at Kalady on Tuesday has fuelled fears of the spread of disease to the Ernakulam district. Animal husbandry officials have sent samples to the High Security Animal Disease (HSAD) Laboratory Bhopal for confirmation.
The authorities have also cautioned bird sanctuaries which attracts migratory birds from far and wide. Rapid response teams have been constituted for Kumarakom Thattekkad and Mangalvanam bird sanctuaries for monitoring. Two birds were found suspected to be infected at Kumarakom.
In the meantime a National Centre for Disease Control team has arrived at Aleppey to help the state authorities to prevent the human transmission of the influenza. The two-member team has started visiting the affected areas following preliminary discussions with health officials.
The Agriculture Ministry has also sent two teams from the National Veterinary Institute and its regional lab at Bangalore to the state. Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh has assured all help from the federal government to deal with the situation when a delegation of Members of Parliament called on him at New Delhi.
Congress MP KC Venugopal said that the minister had assured financial assistance to the state to provide adequate compensation to the affected farmers. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after the cabinet meeting that there was no need for panic as the situation was under control.
He said that the government had taken all measures to contain the spread of the virus and prevent its human transmission in accordance with the protocol prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). He said the state had enough stock of anti-virals.
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