Nagpur: The district administration destroyed all infected eggs and chickens with Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) at the Animal Husbandry Department and Eggs Incubation Centre in Seminary Hills, Nagpur, on Thursday. The administration has also declared the 1 km area near the Centre as a Bird Flu affected zone and teams are keeping vigil in the 10 km area surrounding the hotspot, informed Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector here on Thursday.
Dr Itankar further said that consumption of chicken and eggs is safe for the citizens and the situation should not trigger panic among the chicken and egg-eaters in the city. Similarly, the Health Department also issued an advisory regarding safety of citizens from Bird Flu. Dr Kanchan Wanere, Deputy Chairman, Health Department, on Thursday said that people should take precautions and avoid venturing the 1 km area of the hotspot. She also said that consumption of chicken and egg is very much safe, just people should cook the chicken and egg properly before consuming.
The Health Department has instructed all hospitals in the city to equip themselves to handle any cases of Bird Flu. Though there is no death reported so far in the world due to Bird Flu, the department asked all hospitals to maintain their medicine stock to avoid any incident.
Disaster Management Department on alert mode
The death of birds in the Incubation Centre and the birds infected with Bird Flu has alarmed the Disaster Management Department. The area in the radius of 10 kms has been under observation by the department, said Dr Itankar in a press release.
The vaccination of birds and disinfection of the poultries is being undertaken on priority basis. The affected areas have been prevented from transporting, exhibition etc for the next 21 days. The orders were issued by Dr Itankar on March 4. Following his orders, 8,501 birds, 16,774 eggs and 5,400 kg of bird feed were destroyed by the evening of March 5. Area within 1 km of the Incubation Centre has been declared a Bird Flu infected area under the Prevention, Control and Containment of Avian Influenza Act.
Entire premises have been disinfected and all veterinary doctors have been informed of the situation. Dr Itankar said that the people should be alert and should not panic.
