Media Release

Udupi, Mar 10: In the backdrop of the appearance of bird flu in Ballari and Chikkaballapur districts of the state, the Health and Animal Husbandry Department has advised the public to take precautionary measures to keep a close watch on poultry farms and meat shops in Udupi district.

There are 12.50 lac chickens in 334 meat (boiler) poultry farms in the district, 35,000 chickens in one egg (layer) poultry farm and 2.50 lac backyard chickens. No cases of bird flu have been reported. Bird flu is caused by viruses (associated with birds). It is currently spread through the excretion, respiratory tract and blood of infected birds, said

Poultry farmers should maintain cleanliness in poultry farms. Farms should be sanitized with appropriate medicine. Information about abnormal deaths of chickens should be given to the veterinarian. Postmortem examination of dead chickens and samples should be given for laboratory testing. Care should be taken to ensure that wild and migratory birds do not come into contact with backyard chickens or farm chickens. Dead chickens should be buried with feathers, droppings, internal organs, etc., and government officials should be allowed to visit and inspect them.

Do not touch sick or accidentally dead birds. Do not pluck, kill or touch the feathers of infected birds at home. Children should not be allowed to touch, play with or carry such birds as they may carry the virus. After touching birds, hands should be washed with soap and water and sanitized. When touching birds, especially chicks, one should wear a cloth/fabric mask over the nose and mouth. After touching birds, one should not rub one's eyes, nose or mouth with one's hands. Chicken meat and eggs should be cooked thoroughly before consumption. Raw chicken products should not be consumed. If any abnormal death of birds is reported, immediately report it to the local authorities and take precautions in euthanizing the dead birds, said district commissioner Dr K Vidyakumari in a statement.