The Karnataka government has earmarked Rs. 5 crore as contingency funds to face the Avian flu epidemic, in the case of an outbreak in the state. In addition, the State has sought assistance from the Union government a total funding of Rs. 84 lakh for purchasing drugs and vaccines worth Rs. 50 lakh and Rs. 34 lakh towards test kits as an immediate requirement.

Among the precautionary measures to control H5N1 virus, it has banned the entry of poultry products from Maharashtra in to the State and has set-up a high level committee to monitor the situation round the clock, besides forming a rapid response team.

Although there is no cause for alarm for bird flu at present, precautions such as banning poultry products from Maharashtra has been taken since border districts like Bijapur, Bagalkot, Uttara Kannada and Belgaum are vulnerable entry points, stated Raju Prem Kumar, secretary, Animal husbandry, government of Karnataka.

At the moment, the health and family welfare department has adequate stocks of antibiotics and emergency medicines. The 27 districts have also been directed to stock the medicines, informed D Thangaraj, (IAS) secretary, Karnataka health and family welfare department.

The state has a poultry bird population of 2.55 crore at its 842 layer and 2,631 broiler farms in the State. In the event of culling birds, the state government will have to pay a compensation of Rs. 90 crore, to be paid to the farmers.

While there is a 100 percent fall in sale of poultry products at certain outlets, the poultry processed food majors in the State like Godrej Agrovet and Nandu's Chicken have stated that their products are packed using retort technology with a four layer sterilised material and the products are pathogenically protected. Further, the packed meat has to be cooked at high temperatures in sterile environments and high sanitation standards at the plants which are HACCP compliant makes it absolutely safe for consumption in the wake of the avian influenza outbreak.