Over 23,000 chickens culled in Myanmar in prevention of further bird flu spread

Myanmar authorities have culled 23,226 chickens as of Tuesday in its preventive measures against further spread of H9N2 bird flu which occurred in Monywa, northwestern Sagaing region earlier this month, local media reported Wednesday.

The culled chickens were from 47 poultry farms owned by 29 breeders, local regional government was quoted as saying.

Bio-security measures were also taken on 168 other poultry farms.

Currently, poultry farming zone in Monywa has been designated as restricted zone, banning people from entering except responsible personnel.

Before the outbreak of H9N2 bird flu, the Monywa poultry farming zone was breeding 120,000 chickens, producing nearly 80,000 quails daily, according to the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department (LBVD).

No human infection has been so far reported.

The Ministry of health is carrying out fever surveillance on the workers that were tasked with culling the infected chickens.

A special team has also implemented a quarantine zone of the infected area and is carrying out surveillance, infection control measures as well as providing medical assistance to those with suspected human infection.

Isolation ward and temporary clinic have also been set up at the poultry farming zone to provide healthcare to villagers and raise awareness about the bird flu.

The same farming zone also saw an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in February 2015 when more than 140,000 chickens and 500,000 quails were culled.

H5N1 avian influenza was first reported in Sagaing and Mandalay region in 2006 and recurred in 2002. Endit