Vijayawada: A four-member central team has urged Andhra Pradesh to enforce strict compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the spread of bird flu from affected poultry farms to other regions of the state. The team, which arrived in Vijayawada on Thursday, consists of RG Bambal, Joint Commissioner of the Department of Animal Husbandry; Ravindra Hegde, Joint Director from the Southern Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Bengaluru; Md Mudassar Chanda, Senior Scientist from ICAR-Nivedi; and Manoj Kumar, Senior Scientist from the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases.
The officials inspected avian influenza-affected poultry farms in Badampudi village of Ungutur mandal in Eluru district, Velpur of Tanuku mandal in West Godavari district, and Kanuru Agraharam village of Peravali mandal in East Godavari district. During their visits, they engaged with poultry farmers, inquiring about possible sources of infection, biosecurity measures, and the culling of infected birds under the supervision of animal husbandry authorities. The team also reviewed the disinfection procedures adopted for affected farms.
The primary focus of the central team is to contain the virus and prevent its spread to other regions while safeguarding the poultry industry. Concerns over the outbreak have led to a decline in chicken and egg consumption, impacting poultry businesses. On Friday, the team plans to visit Anumallanka village in Gampalagudem mandal of NTR district, a hotspot for the virus.
According to animal husbandry authorities, nearly 1.79 lakh poultry birds from five affected areas in East and West Godavari, Eluru, and NTR districts have been culled and buried in deep pits, along with thousands of eggs. Biosecurity measures have been implemented, including restrictions on transporting birds from affected farms and their surrounding areas. These birds have also been culled and buried as a precaution.
Following standard protocols, affected poultry farms will remain closed for two months after thorough disinfection. Authorities will then collect swabs from various surfaces within the farms and send them to the Bhopal-based NIHSAD for testing. Poultry operations will resume only after confirming the absence of the virus, upon which a sanitation certificate will be issued to the concerned farmers.
To assess potential human infections, authorities have sent nearly 140 swabs from poultry farm workers in the affected areas for analysis. Fortunately, no human infections have been detected so far, according to Animal Husbandry Director Damodar Naidu.
The central team is scheduled to visit the AP Secretariat on Friday afternoon for discussions with officials from the animal husbandry department regarding further containment strategies.