District Collector Ch. Nagarani monitoring the mass burial of birds that succumbed to bird flu, at a poultry unit at Velpuri village in West Godavari district on Thursday.

West Godavari District Collector Ch. Nagarani on Thursday monitored the mass burial of poultry layers (birds meant for laying eggs and not consumption) that succumbed to the avian influenza (H5N1) at a poultry unit at Velpuri village.

Wearing a PPE kit, Ms. Nagarani led the rapid response team tasked with the exercise to bury the carcasses of birds at the same poultry unit as per the standard protocol.

Accompanied by a team of veterinarians, Ms. Nagarani visited the G. Krishnanandam Poultry, where 20,000 birds perished in one month. Mass mortality was reported at all the five sheds of the poultry unit. Ms. Nagarani said that 22 rapid response teams were involved in the task.

District Animal Husbandry Officer K. Muralikrishna, District incharge Medical and Health Officer B. Bhanu Naik, and veterinarians were monitoring the drive.