Bird flu: Telangana intensifies checks on borders to prevent infected poultry imports

Hyderabad: Telangana has increased checks on the border to prevent infected chicken from entering the state.

This is a part of the biosecurity measures taken by the state. This follows the suspected avian influenza outbreak in neighboring states.

According to reports, poultry birds were culled in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra in recent days. As part of efforts to limit the transportation and feed of poultry, the veterinary department officials stated that checks on vehicles transporting the birds have been stepped up. Farmers are also being made aware of the situation.

"We have constituted specialized teams and are keeping an eye on the situation. At all Telangana interstate boundary checkpoints, veterinarians and police officers are inspecting trucks transporting chicken, the officials said and added that poultry cars that do not possess legal permits and permissions are being refused entry into Telangana.

In a circular, the Telangana government asked officials to be vigilant and take precautions because reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have been made in other states. The Center has also asked the states to bolster biosecurity measures to stop the spread of HPAI and safeguard the poultry population.

"The District Collectors are therefore requested to enhance awareness among the poultry farmers and stakeholders and the public about the HPAI prevention and critical role of biosecurity measures and preventing transportation of sick birds, proper disposal of dead birds," it said.

"They should be informed to bring any unusual deaths of poultry to the notice of staff in the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department. District-level meetings may be convened with the Forest Department, Police Department, Health Department, and Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department to discuss the measures to be adopted to prevent the spread of the disease from other states into Telangana," it added.