Bengaluru: In response to a confirmed H5N1 (Bird Flu) outbreak, the Karnataka government has initiated mass culling of poultry birds in affected regions to prevent further spread. The virus was detected at Regional Poultry Breeding and Training Centres in Ballari and Chikkaballapur districts, with test results confirmed by the NIHSAD Lab in Bhopal on February 25.
Following the outbreak, authorities declared a 3-km radius around the infected sites as “Infected Areas” and a 10-km radius as a surveillance zone to monitor and control the situation.
On February 28, officials culled 292 poultry birds and destroyed 64 eggs in Chikkaballapur, while 1,020 birds were culled in Ballari as part of containment measures. Workers involved in the process were equipped with personal protective gear, including masks, gloves, goggles, and disposable shoe covers, to minimize exposure.
As per standard protocols, all birds and eggs within a 1-km radius of the affected sites are being culled and buried in deep pits. Prophylactic medication (Oseltamivir tablets) has been administered to those in close contact with infected poultry, with a 10-day isolation period advised for observation of flu-like symptoms.
