One Lakh Ducks To Be Culled In Kerala Following Bird Flu Outbreak, Says Minister

Following the outbreak of bird flu in certain regions in Kerala, the state minister for animal husbandry, K Raju, has announced that one lakh ducks will be culled in the state.?

"Earlier what used to be done was all the poultry birds in a one square kilometre radius where such birds have been affected would be culled, but this time we have decided to only cull the ducks in areas where affected birds have been identified," he said according to a report in Mathrubhumi, at a meeting with stakeholders and officials.

Out of the proposed number - 38,000 have already been culled across four villages in the Alappuzha district.

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The minister has also announced that affected farmers would be provided a compensation for their losses.?

In 2014, more than two lakh poultry birds were culled across Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts after the H1N1 virus was detected among the birds.?

Ajmeer Kollam

Meanwhile, with migratory birds arriving for their annual nesting, Odisha government has issued a bird flu alert to all district authorities. Meanwhile, Chandigarh has also reported bird deaths owing to the avian virus and fresh tests from Kota in Rajasthan have come in positive.