The Central team of public health specialists, who visited the poultry farms that were impacted by avian flu (H5N1) in and around Thoroor village, Hayathnagar mandal (RR dist) has directed the Animal Husbandry officials to complete the culling process at the earliest.

The four-member team also asked the health officials to continue their surveillance for the next 10 days. The specialists, drawn from National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi, who visited the affected poultry farms, asked the Animal Husbandry officials to complete the culling by Thursday itself.

The team also visited the local area hospital where isolation wards were set up and interacted with local doctors and others. “They have asked us to keep a very close tab on persons who worked in the poultry farms for the next 10 days. Surveillance of persons in the nearby villages till a radius of 10 km will also continue for the next 10 days,” said JD Epidemics Dr G Srinivas Rao.

Approximately, there are close to 500 persons, who have taken part in the culling process and have also worked in the poultry farms where the avian flu cases have been reported. On Friday, the team will visit Gandhi Hospital to oversee isolation ward facilities and are also expected to meet Health Minister Laxma Reddy.