Bird Flu Emergency: Maharashtra's village declared alert zone amid bird flu outbreak

The Chandrapur district administration in Maharashtra has declared Mangli village and surrounding areas within a 10 km radius as an 'alert zone' following a confirmed bird flu outbreak. The decision came after poultry birds in Mangli village died on January 25, and subsequent laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the avian influenza H5N1 virus.The order was issued on Monday by the collector and chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to implement preventive measures against the spread of bird flu.Samples from the deceased birds were collected by the Animal Husbandry Department and sent to two laboratories: the State Level Animal Disease Investigation Laboratory and Indian Council of Agricultural Research-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases in Pune and Bhopal.The Poultry Bird Rapid Response Team will immediately begin culling affected birds in Mangli, Gevarlachak, and Junonatoli using scientific methods to contain the infection's spread.The authorities will ensure proper disposal of dead poultry birds according to guidelines. Additionally, remaining animal feed and eggs in the affected areas will be destroyed to prevent further contamination.The administration has implemented strict movement restrictions in the alert zone. All movement of live and dead hens, eggs, chicken, bird feed, and related materials and equipment has been prohibited.Authorities have mandated the disinfection of affected poultry farm entrances and premises using sodium hypochlorite or potassium permanganate solutions.As part of the containment measures, all poultry and chicken shops within a 5 km radius of the affected area will remain closed until further notice. Vehicle movement has also been restricted in the affected area to minimize the risk of disease spread.The comprehensive measures aim to contain the bird flu outbreak and prevent its spread to other areas while following established protocols for disease management.