Bird flu confirmed in Karachi

KARACHI: In the aftermath of mysterious deaths of thousands of chicken since last 3 days, which were conformed as occurred due to suspected deadly viral of Bird flu and Rani Khet, both the affected poultry farms and nearby environs have been completely sealed.

The poultry farms located in the Gaddap Town located on edge of Super Highway, witnessed mysterious en masse deaths of chicken since Wednesday, and which prompted the surveillance teams of health officials and Sindh Poultry Research Institute (SPRI) to survey the affected poultry farms, and procure samples of dead chicken forwarded to (NDL) National Defense Laboratory, Islamabad.

In its finalized reports on Friday, the NDL confirmed the presence of deadly H5N1 and NDA (Rani Khet) viruses in these dead chicken, which were immediately buried in deep pits, packed in plastic bags dipped with chemicals.

The director poultry research production institute Sindh, Dr Akbar Ali Soomro has declared the first ever presence of Bird flu in Sindh region, while (it is pertinent to note that) earlier Bird Flu had been declared as prevalent in Islamabad, Abbotabad and Mansehra regions.

Culling of remaining chicken is being carried out, while a sharp vigil is being carried out in City poultry farms for early detection of the disease, with chemical sprays also being carried out.

A detailed orientation of poultry farm workers is also being carried out and directives have been given to conduct sprays and other precautionary measures upto 7 kilometers of the infected areas.