Bhubaneswar: Govt on Saturday began culling in chicken farms at Bada Ankula village in Delanga block of Puri district, after detecting avian influenza in samples of dead birds. Seven teams were sent to cull the birds to prevent the spread of H5N1 virus.Mihir Nayak, additional director of disease control, fisheries and animal resources development department, said they briefed the teams to conduct the culling operation. "We have planned to cull more than 6,000 birds in two chicken farms at Bada Ankula village under Delanga block," he added.After the death of birds in the area, veterinary staff were sent to collect samples from three villages. They collected 36 samples from Bada Ankula, Beguniapada and Tarada and sent them to the Animal Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), Phulnakhara, Cuttack for testing."Some samples tested positive for H5N1. After getting the results, we started the process on Saturday. On the first day, we culled 3,316 birds in a farm. Culling in the second farm, having more than 3,000 birds, will be conducted on Sunday," said an official involved in the operation.The health and family welfare department has also taken steps to prevent any possible infection of humans. The district surveillance unit of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) has mapped the infected zone (0-1km) to conduct door-to-door checking of influenza-like illness (ILI)/severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases.

The district unit has formed rapid response teams to take stock of the situation in bird flu-affected areas. It will functionalise a control room and identify a bird flu isolation room at a nearby govt hospital. They will conduct health monitoring of the high-risk group, such as those involved in culling, official sources said.Avian influenza is a highly contagious disease that infects birds. It can spread from birds to humans through inhalation because of close contact. "We have taken all necessary preventive steps in the bird flu-affected areas," said a health official.The bird flu scare has impacted the chicken business. Chicken farms in the Delanga area have been urged not to supply to other places within Puri district or outside.