A day after a bird flu case was reported at Varadahalli in Chikkaballapur taluk, the district administration Friday carried out a sanitisation drive in the village and cordoned off access points to contain further spread of the virus and create awareness among locals.
However, tension gripped the village when the administration began catching birds for culling, with villagers refusing to hand over the birds. Even as officials tried to convince villagers, they demanded compensation for every bird before culling.
Dr Rangappa, deputy director, animal husbandry and veterinary services department, admitted there was initial resistance from villagers. “They were reluctant to hand over the birds for culling. But we managed to convince them after explaining that if consumed, these birds could severely impact the health of humans. Later, they agreed to hand over the birds, and they were culled and buried in a bio-sanitised pit sprayed with bleaching powder and limestone powder,” he said.
A total of 447 birds were culled in the village.
Simultaneously, officials conducted a health check-up of 400-plus villages, and no one was found to be infected with the virus. However, officials cautioned villagers not to consume eggs or chicken without adequately boiling the meat.
All streets and vehicles in the village were sanitised with panchayat personnel spraying a sodium hypochlorite solution. “Residents have been instructed not to carry birds out of the village. All roads leading to the village have been barricaded and check posts set up. High alert has been sounded within 1km radius,” said Shashikala, panchayat development officer of Ajjavara gram panchayat.
Chikkaballapur deputy commissioner Ravindra said some villagers who had nurtured 30-40 poultry birds were a bit reluctant to hand them over for culling as they felt they’d suffer financial loss. The DC promised to take up the issue with the govt and check if compensation could be provided to them.