Senior officials said that there was no need for the poultry farms to be panicked in the wake of the Latur incident as the farm owners’ were according top priority for the biosecurity measures in the farm. Yet, the department and the owners are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring safety at the farms.

A senior official from the epidemiology wing in the Animal Husbandry department seeking anonymity said that the department was continuously following a robust system put in place by the Central government after the outbreak of birdflu for the first time in the country in 2005.

As part of the system, it would regularly collect more than 1,000 samples from poultry farms across the State and send them to Telangana State Veterinary Biological and Research Institute (VBRI) here. The VBRI functions, as serum institute, catering to the needs of the livestock farmers in disease prevention, disease diagnosis, production of vaccines and research on emerging diseases.

Apart from sending samples to VBRI, the department would also send samples to another lab in Karnataka. “The regular collection of samples from poultry farms and constant surveillance is helping us in preventing birdflu even though a few areas in other States are suffering from its outbreak,”

“We are more vigilant during the peak season from September to February when migratory birds start arriving in the country,” the official explained, adding that no case of birdflu was reported in the State as of now after Lathur incident.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle on Thursday, Sanjeev Chintawar, AGM, National Egg Coordination Committee, said the poultry farms in the State have dedicated bio-security measures and individuals except staff were not allowed near the farm premises.