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Amid growing demands that the Agricultural Ministry explain how bird flu could suddenly have appeared at 7 farms around their country, that agency has embarked on a massive culling campaign.
Farms not affected by the virus, but situated close to farms where infection was detected, were culled as a precaution.
Kingdom Culls 3.2m Birds to Stem Avian Flu
Mohammed Rasooldeen & Galal Fakkar, Arab News
RIYADH, 22 November 2007 — A total of 3.2 million birds on 10 farms have been culled as a preventive measure to curtail the spread of the H5N1 avian flu, Agricultural Minster Fahd Balghunaim said in a television interview that was aired on Saudi television yesterday. “Birds in seven farms in Riyadh where the virus was detected were culled. The chickens in another three farms were also culled because the farms are situated hazardously close to the farms where the virus appeared first,” Balghunaim said.
The minister assured farmers who lost huge investments in the poultry sector would be adequately compensated by the Agriculture Ministry in line with the directives issued by the Council of Ministers.
The minister explained that the preventive measures adopted by his ministry included burning infected poultry. The chicken feed and other leftovers were also burned and the farms were sanitized.
