Acting on an order issued by the Health Department, Kerala, officials shut all the three check posts - near Kumily, Maharaja Mettu in Bodi and Cumbum Mettu near Cumbum - for chicken-laden vehicles. However, they did not stop vehicles carrying cattle. They were allowed to cross these check posts without any hassle.

The Kerala officials reportedly took samples of chicken from a van which was blocked at the check post and found the disease, according to The Hindu. Later, they ordered the check post officials to stop all chicken-laden lorries and send them back.

The check post officials in Kumily stated that they would not permit vehicles with chicken from Theni district meant for sale in Kerala till they received orders from the government.

In the meanwhile, traders in Kerala too advised the poultry farm owners in the district not to send chicken to them.

Poultry farmers felt that this problem could be solved only through talks between the Collectors of Theni and Idukki districts. Otherwise, the Veterinary Department, after thorough investigation of poultry farms, could certify that chicken reared in the district were disease-free, they added.

Normally, several loads of chicken are transported to Kerala every day through these three check posts. Poultry farming is one of the prime activities of many farmers in Goodalur, Cumbum, Royappanpatti, Chinnamanur and nearby villages.

Farmers in Goodalur said that such an action had been initiated hurriedly by the Kerala health officials following spread of information on death of chicken in Andipatti recently.

(Hundreds of chicken died in a private farm near Andipatti owing to some disease recently. All the birds were buried safely by the farm staff.) A team of veterinary officials, who inspected the farm, ruled out any outbreak. The disease did not spread to other fowls in the same farm, they added.