Odisha: BMC issues directives on Bird flu, not to supply chicken from affected area

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], September 5 (ANI): Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued an advisory to avoid eating chicken following detection of infection from a poultry firm near city limits, informed BMC Mayor Sulochana Das.
"Bird flu detected near to Bhubaneswar City. BMC has given an advisory to avoid eating chicken for some days and not to supply chicken to Bhubaneswar from affected area", Bhubaneswar Municipal Cooperation Mayor Sulochana Das said.
"We received the information regarding the spread of Bird Flu near Bhubaneswar. So, BMC issued an advisory," she added.
According to the advisory, the supply of chicken from outside Bhubaneswar will be restricted, said Sulochana Das.
The BMC Mayor has advised people to avoid eating chicken for few days.
"We have also requested the people here to avoid consuming chicken for a few days. It is being followed strictly in Bhubaneswar", the BMC Mayor said.
"We have requested both the shopkeepers to avoid selling chickens as well. It will be better if the shopkeepers selling chicken will not bring chicken from outside of Bhubaneswar".
She informed that the few bird flu cases from the firms outside Bhubaneswar
"Few bird flu cases have been reported from the firms outside Bhubaneswar, so we release an advisory in advance to restrict people eating chicken," she added.
Earlier on August 27, a bird flu outbreak was confirmed in Pipli town of Odisha's Puri district, with detection of the H5N1 avian influenza in several poultry farms, prompting authorities to initiate containment measures.
As part of containment measures, over 20,000 birds are set to be culled to prevent the spread of the virus to other regions.
The Animal Husbandry Department has initiated the culling process, which is expected to continue for several days.
Residents in Pipili have been advised to avoid contact with birds and to report any sick or dead poultry to authorities immediately. To further prevent the virus from spreading, a temporary ban on the sale and transport of poultry products from the region has been imposed. (ANI)