MAKING A POINT: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy speaking with Health Minister R. Ashok at a meeting in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: With the outbreak of avian flu in the country, the State Government on Sunday decided to take precautionary steps against it.

It has banned the entry of poultry and poultry products from neighbouring Maharashtra into the State.

Panel

At a meeting called by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, which was attended by Health Minister R. Ashok and other ministers and officials, it was decided to set up a high-level committee to monitor the situation round-the-clock. The meeting also decided to set up a rapid response team.

Mr. Kumaraswamy told presspersons that there is no cause for alarm as Karnataka is ahead of Maharashtra in poultry production, and in fact, exports poultry to that State. However, precautions such as banning poultry products from Maharashtra are necessary because border districts of Bijapur, Bagalkot, Uttara Kannada and Belgaum are vulnerable entry points.

The Animal Husbandry Department has ordered the authorities in these districts to destroy all birds within a three-km radius from the border. According to figures available with the Government, there are over 2.55 crore fowls and chickens in the State. If every bird is to be killed, the compensation to be paid to poultry farmers will be around Rs. 93 crores. There are 842 private layer farms and 2,631 broiler chicken farms in the State. Mr. Kumaraswamy said the Government has sought drugs and vaccines worth Rs. 50 lakhs from the Centre.

`No truth'

Asked about reports of a poultry farm in Bellary showing signs of birds being infected by the H5N1 virus that causes bird flu, he said there is no truth in them.

According to Raju Prem Kumar, Secretary, Animal Husbandry Department, there will be an immediate requirement of test kits for which at least Rs. 54 lakhs is needed.

Health Secretary D. Thangaraj said that his department has adequate stocks of antibiotics and emergency medicines. District health officials have been directed to stock medicines. Mr. Kumaraswamy said officials, poultry farm owners, and medical staff and those handling poultry have been trained at workshops on what to do in case they come across infected birds.

As for the eight bird sanctuaries and 20 "hotspots" where migratory birds are known to arrive every year, the officials have been asked to provide details of the current situation and alert Health and Animal Husbandry departments in case any unusual death of birds.

A high-level committee headed by the Health Minister and comprising other ministers and officials will remain on the alert until the situation returns to normality, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

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