Goa Bans Poultry from Karnataka Following Bird Flu Outbreak

Goa which caters to over four million tourists every year, is a major market for poultry, despite being a small state. Most of the bird meat is sourced from the neighboring states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Following a reported outbreak of bird flu in Karnataka's Bidar district, the administration in Goa's South Goa district has banned the entry of poultry from the neighboring state.

Speaking to reporters, South Goa District Magistrate Swapnil Naik said that the ban was imposed after the Bhopal-based National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases confirmed presence of bird flu in birds from a poultry in Bidar's Humnabad area and the same was communicated to his office by the state government's animal husbandry and veterinary department.

"The ban is a precautionary measure and will be reviewed in a few days," he said.

Naik also said that officials at border check points at Pollem and Mollem in South Goa had been directed not to allow poultry wagons from across the border until further orders.

Source-IANS