Mangaluru: The Dakshina Kannada district administration, on Thursday, banned the import of all types of poultry products from Kerala owing to the spread of avian flu in that state.
Additionally, vehicles supplying poultry products to Kerala through the DK district will have to be disinfected before they can re-enter Karnataka. Vehicles arriving from Kerala to purchase poultry products from Karnataka must also be disinfected at the check posts.
Announcing the measures, DK Deputy Commissioner Dr K V Rajendra said that precautions are required as bird flu (H5N8) has been reported in Kerala and added that people in the district need not panic.
“Vehicles found to be unhygienic should not be allowed to enter the state, he added.
The DC also instructed the officials to take all necessary measures to sanitize vehicles carrying poultry products at the check posts.
He also said that all poultry farms, water bodies, and bird sanctuaries in Dakshina Kannada must be monitored. “Poultry farm owners should undertake all necessary precautions to check for the possibility of a spread of the avian flu virus and should not allow other people to enter unnecessarily,” the DC said.
Dr Rajendra also instructed the poultry farm owners to inform the nearest veterinary dispensaries if they detect any symptoms of bird flu among their poultry.
Vehicles that transport bird feed should also be sanitized with disinfectants (2% Sodium Hypochlorite, Virkon-s, B904, Khorsolin) and Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services officials should visit the farms and do the needful, he added.
