Harvesting of birds started at Vazhuthanam near Haripad on Thursday after bird flu (H5N1) was detected.
Officials of the Animal Husbandry Department said that rapid response teams had killed over 15,000 ducks in Vazhhuthanam Padinjare and Vazhhuthanam Vadakke paddy puddles in Haripad municipality.
“The harvesting of birds at the hotspot has been completed. The carcasses of the killed birds are being disposed of as per the standard operating procedure. As part of the killing of ducks and other birds within a 1 km radius of the avian flu hotspot, In the containment measures, will be completed on Friday,” said an official.
The murder was carried out under the guidance of District Animal Husbandry Officer DS Bindu.
Members of the Rapid Response Team prepare for duck-cutting at Vazhhuthanam near Haripad on Thursday. , photo credit: Suresh Alleppey
Meanwhile, the health department has urged people to take precautions in view of the outbreak. Officials said the highly contagious H5N1 strain usually spreads from bird to bird. Although rare, avian influenza virus can also be transmitted to humans.
This is the third time in less than two years that avian influenza has been confirmed in the region.
In January 2021, avian flu caused by the H5N8 strain of Influenza A virus was detected at several places in Kuttanad. In December last year, another outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) was confirmed in Thakazhi gram panchayat of Kuttanad.