Bengaluru: On Sunday, the State government sounded a high alert against bird flu outbreak, after cases of the flu were detected at Melkera village of Humnabad taluk in Bidar district.

Animal husbandry minister A Manju has asked the entire 1.50 lakh stock of chicken to be culled in the farm so that avian influenza (H5N1 virus) doesn’t spread to the rest of the farms. He also said that the government would provide compensation to the farm owner.
 
The poultry farm owners and caretakers have been cautioned. In case of viral infection, scientists have advised farm owners not to sell or move any of the birds/eggs and material out of farm.

Karnataka has around 7,000 poultry farms which have variety of chicken with a stock of more than 5 crore birds.
 
Manju informed that officials from Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary, Biologicals, Bengaluru have collected the samples for testing. The samples were tested at National Institute High Security Animal Diseases, Bhopal, and samples tested positive for H5N1.
 
A team of experts would oversee the process of culling and preventive measures being taken to contain its spread.

The Health and Family Welfare Department has appealed to the public not to consume chicken infected with H5N1, since it can be transmitted to humans.

Farm owners have been advised to regularly conduct inspection in the poultry farms and closely monitor the movement of wild and migratory birds who carry the deadly H5N1 virus.