Badampudi, a small village in Eluru district about 100 kilometres from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, has been facing tough times after the outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) in the first week of February. The narrow lanes of the village, usually bustling with farmers tending to their poultry, now stand eerily silent. A red flag flutters at the village’s entrance, marking it as a newly declared biosecurity zones — ground zero in the fight against the flu.
In the early hours, health officials clad in protective suits and faces hidden behing masks move through rows of chicken coops, many empty. The sharp scent of disinfectant lingers in the air as they inspect flocks for signs of infection. Once thriving with clucking birds and hopeful farmers, Badampudi, along with Velpuru, Kanuru, and Gampalagudem, now face strict restrictions, cutting off mobility to curb the spread of the virus.
State Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu has assured residents that precautions are in place. Three-tier security measures have been implemented — red zones confine movement within a kilometre of infected areas, while surveillance teams monitor a 10-kilometre radius. Beyond this, normalcy persists, with the sale of chicken and eggs continuing undisturbed.
But the fear about avian flu has had its impact on the food industry in parts of the State. Some of the restaurants that had chicken as the main item on the menu have shut down.
At a local farm, Ramayya, a poultry farmer, gazes at his empty enclosures, worry lining his face. “This is my livelihood,” he says, voice tinged with fear. “If the virus spreads, we lose everything.”
(Text: Serish Nanisetti)
Photo:
K.V.S. Giri
Control crew: A team of experts examine a poultry farm at Badampudi village following the outbreak of avian influenza.
Photo:
K.V.S. Giri
Deserted destination: The gateway to Badampudi where bird fu has been confirmed.
Photo:
K.V.S. Giri
Red zone: A sign board cautions people against bird flu in Badampudi.
Photo:
K.V.S. Giri
Safety check: A team of experts examine chicken for flu symptoms.
Photo:
K.V.S. Giri
Spreading the word: Health workers engaged in a door-to-door campaign to raise awareness of the flu.
Photo:
K.V.S. Giri
Preventive measures: A medical camp organised at Badampudi in response to the bird flu outbreak.
Photo:
K.V.S. Giri
Fresh alternatives: A fish market in Vijaywada. Bird flu has forced people to turn to fish and mutton as a precautionary measure.
Photo:
G.N. Rao
Piling up: A worker collects eggs on the premises of a poultry farm in NTR district. The bid flu outbreak has caused concern regarding safety of consumption of eggs, with some districts opting to suspend their supply for mid-day meal programmes in schools. G. N. RAO
Photo:
K.V.S. Giri
Grim response: Culled birds being taken for disposal at a poultry farm in Badampudi.
Photo:
K.V.S. Giri
Losing stocks: A shop selling chicken at 120 a kg to clear the piling stocks as demand took a hit following the flu outbreak
