UP orders culling of fowls after bird flu alert

The Uttar Pradesh government has directed culling of infected fowls after a bird flu alert in the state following the deaths of hundreds of hens reportedly owing to avian influenza in the Amethi district, about 150 km from here.

According to official sources here on Sunday, about 500 hens have died at several villages in Sukul Bazar area in Amethi in the past few days. “Tests proved that the birds died of highly pathogenic avian influenza,” said the officials here.

The Centre had alerted the state about the outbreak, and asked it to take necessary measures, said the sources.

“All district magistrates and commissioners have been asked to take every possible step to check the spread of the disease. Infected birds must be culled immediately,” said the officials. A control room has been set-up in the state capital for effective monitoring of the steps.

Sources said the deaths were reported initially from a few villages in the district in the first week of this month. “Within a short span of time, the number of dead fowls crossed 500,” said the officials. This prompted the alert.