A bird flu strain, H5N1, has been detected in Mattikere village near Hesaraghatta on the outskirts of Bengaluru, prompting the Karnataka government to initiate emergency containment measures.
Officials said Rapid Response Teams were deployed immediately, and a 3-km infected zone along with a 10-km surveillance zone has been set up to contain the spread of the virus.
As part of precautionary steps, 7,444 birds and 14,788 eggs have been safely disposed of. Staff involved in the operation are under medical observation.
Health authorities have started door-to-door monitoring in 19 nearby villages. Health workers will check residents for fever and other symptoms over the next 10 days.
Officials urged people not to panic and advised them to avoid touching
sick or dead birds, and to report such cases immediately.
The government also said that properly cooked chicken and eggs are safe to consume, adding that adequate medical supplies have been stocked at local health centres to handle any situation.
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