Bird flu: In Ludhiana, 13 rapid response teams formed

Manav Mander
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, January 8

Though no case of bird flu has been reported in the state yet, experts have cautioned poultry farmers, asking them to adopt all necessary precautions.

In Ludhiana, 13 rapid response teams have been formed for 13 blocks and samples have also been collected. Farmers have been advised to pay attention to the immunity of birds and give them nutrient-rich diet. Adding immunity boosters such as turmeric, ginger and garlic to their diet can help birds fight any infection, they have been told.

Dr Paramdeep Singh, Assistant Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry Department, said: “We have formed 13 rapid response teams for 13 blocks. Nearly 500 samples have been collected and all have tested negative.”

He said surveillance was being carried out at domestic poultry market and farmers had been told to inform the department if they found anything unusual.

Dr Parminder Singh, Associate Director, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Mohali, said no case had been reported in the state so far but those in the poultry business needed to be careful.

Dr Rajnish Sharma, Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health and Zoonosis, said: “There is no harm in consuming chicken and eggs after cooking them properly. But poultry farmers need to be careful and adopt bio-security system.”