About 2 lakh poultry died in Badampudi, Unguturu mandal in Eluru district, where the heaviest mortality was recorded. Samples have been sent to high security labs in Vijayawada, Pune for testing, reports said.

Animal Husbandry department director T Damodar Naidu said that the outbreak may have occurred because of faecal discharge of infected migratory birds. He further stated that the local country birds have got in contact with faecal discharge of migratory birds.

“There is mortality but not to the extent claimed by the farmers. Farmers are also neglecting biosecurity measures, which is the main reason for the spread of diseases,” Naidu told PTI.

Some farmers dumped dead birds in the canals and on garbage dumps in the streets, leading to the spread of the infection, he said, adding that basic precaution was neglected, resulting in the deaths of the fowls.

Naidu said that there is a low pantothenic vaccine but it will not work for the high pathogenic strains.

East Godavari bird casualties:

In East Godavari district too, lakhs of birds died due to the virus in Anaparthi, Peravali and Undrajavaram. District animal husbandry officer T Srinivas noted that the deaths of 10,000 birds in winter is common but said that the mortality was very high this time.

In Eluru, officials said that the disease first began on January 13 and poultry owners began approaching veterinary doctors and when the situation got out of control, they approached animal husbandry department.

Farmers were advised to take biosecurity measures and to either bury or burn the dead fowls. He asked them not to throw dead birds into the canal, which will spread the disease