Poultry layers that succumbed to bird flu at a poultry unit at Kanuru Agraharam of Peravali mandal in East Godavari district.

The samples of dead poultry layers (birds meant for laying eggs and not consumption) collected from a poultry farm at Kanuru Agraharam of Peravali mandal in East Godavari district have tested positive for bird flu, an avian influenza (H5N1).

“The National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal has confirmed the presence of the virus,” District Animal Husbandry Officer T. Srinivasa Rao told The Hindu on Sunday.

The first death of poultry layer with suspected symptoms of bird flu was reported on January 13 in Eluru district. Since then, nearly five lakh poultry layers had perished at the farms spread over three hotspots in the Godavari region — Peravali and Undrajavaram mandals in East Godavari district and Unguturu mandal in Eluru district.

“In Kanuru Agraharam, more than 71,000 poultry layers have succumbed to bird flu so far. Barely 3,000 poultry layers are alive now in the same unit,” Mr. Srinivasa Rao said.

“We are launching an action plan on a war-footing basis to contain the spread of the virus from the poultry layers to humans. All the poultry layers within one-km radius of the Peravali hotspot will be culled immediately,” East Godavari District Collector P. Prasanthi said.

Ban on consumption

Meanwhile, the ban on consumption and transportation of chicken meant for consumption and poultry layers came into force within the 10-km radius of the hotspot.

“We will adhere to the biosecurity protocol in culling the live poultry layers and carcasses of the poultry layers. Post-culling, all the poultry layers will be buried at the same spot where they are culled,” Ms. Prasanthi said.

All the departments, including the Police, Transportation, and Medical and Health, would commence the culling drive on Monday.

“Surveillance teams will begin a door-to-door survey to document instances, if any, of humans suffering from symptoms of bird flu due to spread of the virus from the poultry layers,” Ms. Prasanthi said.

The officials also launched a survey to trace the destinations where the local traders procured eggs in Kanuru Agraharam.

“We have also alerted the Forest Department to conduct medical tests on the migratory birds that have arrived in the Godavari region for breeding, suspecting that they may carry the virus during their travel,” she said.

However, there had been no cases of mortality of migratory birds with suspected symptoms of bird flu across the region since January.

The officials advised people not to consume chicken for some days in East Godavari district to prevent the spread of the virus.

In the neighbouring Eluru district, where mass mortality of poultry layers was recorded in Unguturu mandal, the officials were on alert. They were waiting for reports from NIHSAD.