1,000 Birds Culled, 14,000 Eggs Destroyed After Bird Flu Detected In Govt Hatchery A rapid response team from the animal husbandry department culled approximately 1,000 poultry birds and destroyed nearly 14,000 eggs at the Govt Central Hatchery in Seminary Hills, Nagpur, late Monday night. The action was taken as a precautionary measure following the confirmation of the highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza virus. The hatchery had previously experienced a bird flu outbreak in 2024, and officials suspect the virus may have spread from migratory birds visiting nearby Futala Lake during the winter months. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal and the Disease Investigation Section in Pune confirmed that poultry samples from the hatchery tested positive for the H5N1 virus. The confirmation came after initial suspicions arose in early March, prompting the collection of samples for testing. Officials noted that while treatment was attempted initially, the presence of the virus in even a single bird necessitated the culling of the entire stock to prevent further spread. On Tuesday, collector Vipin Itankar declared a 1-kilometer radius around the hatchery as an infected zone and a 9-kilometer radius as a surveillance zone. This led to a 21-day ban on the purchase, sale, transport, and exhibitions of poultry, eggs, and feed within the infected area. Movement of all bird species in the affected zone was also prohibited. Poultry shops and bird markets in the surveillance zone were ordered to remain closed during this period. The hatchery, which supplies chicks to rural farmers under government schemes, maintains multiple poultry breeds, including Kaveri and Aseel, for both egg and meat production.#nagpur #bhopal #seminary_hills #govt_central_hatchery #nihsad
Bird flu outbreak confirmed at government hatchery in Nagpur, 1,000 chickens dead, containment measures underway Nagpur: A bird flu outbreak was confirmed late Monday evening at the Central Hatchery located at Seminary Hills. The infection was identified after approximately 800 to 1,000 birds died, with the Bhopal-based CSIR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) laboratory confirming the presence of the virus. This development has prompted urgent containment efforts and administrative actions to prevent further spread. Authorities have instructed several assistant commissioners and livestock development officers to report immediately to the Central Hatchery to oversee the scientific disposal of the affected poultry. However, sources indicated that some officers either turned off their phones or failed to report for duty, raising concerns about compliance with emergency protocols. In response to the outbreak, the Nagpur district collector has issued an official notification. Officials have warned that any negligence during this critical period will result in disciplinary action under the Disaster Management Act. The regional joint commissioner of animal husbandry has directed that proposals be submitted for action against the officers who failed to comply. All officials have been ordered to strictly follow the directives of the deputy commissioner of animal husbandry and dairy development in Nagpur. Failure to adhere to these orders will result in their names being reported to the district collector for further action. The incident occurs amid heightened alert in the region as authorities intensify efforts to contain the spread of bird flu. The outbreak underscores the challenges of managing such crises, particularly in areas with significant poultry farming activity.#nagpur #nagpur_district_collector #central_hatchery #seminary_hills
