Bird flu: Kerala starts culling of birds

After bird flu was confirmed in ducks in Kerala, the government started culling of poultry in Kuttanad region on Wednesday.

According to the animal husbandry department, 2.80 lakh birds, including chickens, will be culled. The government has also planned to give compensation to the farmers for culling their birds. But when duck farmers protested against culling their birds, the state government increased the compensation amount to Rs 200 per adult duck and Rs 100 per duckling.

Vigilance for Bird Flu Spread in Europe: WHO
World Health Organization urges European countries to be vigilant as the new kind of bird flu hitting the country's poultry farms will surely spread among birds.

Meanwhile, the Centre has also sent a team of experts to Kerala to deal with the bird flu scare. Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said a team of experts from the Bangalore regional lab of the Veterinary Institute has been sent to the Kerala.

About 15,000 ducks died recently in Kottayam and another 500 in nearby Alappuzha due to avian influenza.

Varieties of birds, including pets, would be burnt to death by using kerosene. Reports said that the virus had spread through droppings of migratory birds that visit the area.

Research Finds Distinct Avian Influenza Viruses in Antarctic Penguins
An avian influenza virus has been identified by an international team of researchers in a group of Adélie penguins from Antarctica.

Source-Medindia

New Strain of Bird Flu Virus Forces Indonesia to Cull Over 112,000 Ducks
More than 112,000 ducks have been slaughtered in order to prevent the spread of a new strain of bird flu virus in Indonesia.

Kerala Issues Red Alert After Bird Flu Scare
In Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts of Kerala, a red alert has been declared following an outbreak of avian influenza in the Kuttanadu area.