Alappuzha: A total of 7,625 birds were culled on Saturday in parts of Alappuzha district after avian influenza was confirmed in select panchayats, officials stated. The culling work took place in the Karuvatta and Pallippad panchayats.

Out of the overall number, 2,886 birds were culled in Pallippad, while 4,739 birds were culled in Karuvatta by the evening, as per an official release.

The operations were led by the Rapid Response Team of the Animal Husbandry Department, which also undertook sanitation and cleaning measures in the affected areas, it added.

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Officials said strict surveillance and control measures remain in place to prevent further spread of the disease.

Avian influenza (AI), also known as bird flu, is a zoonotic viral disease that primarily affects poultry and may occasionally spill over to mammals, including humans and swine.

Meanwhile, the compensation for losses caused by avian flu is likely to be delayed this time as well. The Central government is yet to release ₹2.28 crore due to the state as compensation for losses incurred last year. Only after receiving this amount can compensation be paid to farmers for birds that died or were culled as part of preventive measures.

(With inputs from PTI)